Reflection for March 9, 2025

First Sunday of Lent (C)

Deuteronomy 26:4-10 | Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 | Romans 10:8-13 | Luke 4:1-13

As we begin our Lenten journey, this Sunday’s Gospel reminds us to have the same confidence Jesus had when facing temptation—trusting that God's word is enough. We can rely on Him to provide for our needs, to protect us, and to remain faithful to His promises. And above all, we worship God because He alone has power over us and the world.

Josefa, an elderly woman, was known for two things—her strong faith and her fearless way of sharing it. Every day, she’d stand on her porch and declare, "Every knee will bow before Jesus!" Living next door was Ricardo, an atheist who found her proclamations incredibly annoying. He’d yell back, "There ain't no God!" One day, Josefa fell on hard times and prayed, "Lord, I need food. Please send me some groceries!" Still full of faith, she stepped onto her porch and shouted, "Every knee will bow before Jesus!" The next morning, she found a big bag of groceries waiting for her. Overjoyed, she cried out, "Every knee will bow before Jesus!" Just then, Ricardo jumped out from behind a bush and sneered, "Aha! I told you there’s no God! I bought those groceries myself!" Without missing a beat, Josefa clapped her hands, started jumping up and down, and shouted, "Every knee will bow before Jesus! He not only sent me groceries—He made the devil pay for them!"

In our first reading, the Israelites were instructed to bring the first fruits of their harvest to God, acknowledging that everything they had was a gift from Him. This act of offering was not just about gratitude but also a declaration of faith—just as they had relied on God in the desert, they would continue to trust Him in the Promised Land. God’s providence is constant; He never fails to provide for our needs. However, His blessings are not meant to be hoarded but shared. Like the Israelites presenting their first fruits and like Josefa, who joyfully proclaimed God’s work in her life, we are called to give back the fruits of our labor as a fitting tribute to the One who sustains us. In doing so, we recognize that everything we have is a gift from God and that every knee, indeed, will bow before Him.

Fr. Rico Garcia, seminary rector, was invited to give the opening prayer at the Nike Basketball 3ON3 Tournament in Manila. Before he began, he was asked not to mention Jesus' name to avoid offending non-Christians in attendance. Without hesitation, Fr. Rico responded that whenever he prayed, he prayed in Jesus’ name—because Jesus is God incarnate. He also pointed out, “I’m about to ask God for good weather and for the players’ safety. Who’s going to answer that prayer if I don’t pray in Jesus’ name? He’s the only One with the power to do what I ask.” And he was absolutely right. If we’re not praying in Jesus’ name, then what’s the point of praying at all? Prayer is about acknowledging our complete dependence on God. And we approach Him in Jesus’ name because salvation is found in no one else—there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

In the first century, confessing Jesus as Lord often came at great personal cost. For a Jew, it could mean the loss of family connections, social exclusion, or even significant financial hardship. Despite the penalties imposed by the secular world, the Apostle Paul reassured the Romans that no one who believes in Jesus will be put to shame. Today, many view the phrase “In Jesus’ name, Amen” as merely a signal that prayer is concluding—perhaps even as a routine phrase before meals. Others may mistakenly treat it like a spiritual incantation, expecting their words to function as a Christian version of "Open Sesame" or "Abracadabra." However, praying in Jesus' name is far more profound—it is akin to signing His name to our prayers. In doing so, we are essentially saying to God, “Jesus Himself has directed me to pray this.” And what does the Father do with a prayer genuinely aligned with the will of His Son? He grants it, for He always honors the desires of the Son. At times, we may struggle with the thought that if Jesus truly cared for our well-being, we would not experience suffering, illness, or hardship. Yet, this is a deceptive lie of the enemy. Jesus does not promise a life free from trials, but rather the true comfort of resting securely in God's promises. He allows us to face difficulties not as a sign of His absence, but as a means of drawing us closer to Him. Faith in Jesus, expressed through belief and calling on His name in prayer, leads to salvation. To truly believe in Christ means not only to trust in His sacrifice but also to bear witness to the salvation brought by His death and resurrection.

A Buddhist, a Hindu, and a Christian argue over whose God is the real deal. To settle it, they decide to prove their gods can save them from danger—by jumping off a cliff. The Buddhist goes first. "Buddha, Buddha, Buddha!" he chants as he falls. Just before hitting the ground, he slows down and starts levitating. The Hindu, unimpressed, jumps next. "Hare Krishna! Hare Rama!" he calls out. But as he nears the ground, his tone shifts from confidence to panic. "Hare Krishna! Hare Ra—WHACK!" He doesn’t make it. Now it’s the Christian’s turn. "Lord Jesus, save me!" he prays while falling. Halfway down, panic sets in. "Saint Paul! Saint Peter! Mama Mary, help!" As the ground rushes up, desperation kicks in. "Oh Lord Jesus, Lord Je—BUDDHA BUDDHA BUDDHAAAA!!!" 

Our Gospel today highlights a central theme of the Lenten season: our complete dependence on God for all that we have and all that we are. Any inclination that leads us to reject this dependence or doubt its sufficiency is a temptation from the devil. In the desert, Jesus faced temptations that mirrored those of Israel during their time of testing. He was tempted with the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the lust of the eyes. Yet, in each instance, He responded not with His own words, but with Scripture—demonstrating how we, too, should confront temptation. Three times Satan tested Him, and three times Jesus countered with the Word of God. Trusting in God during hardships can be challenging, yet Jesus assures us that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. When life knocks you down, do you still place your trust in Him? With unwavering faith, let us join the psalmist in proclaiming: "Be with me, O Lord, when I am in trouble."

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