These past few days it
looked as though Congress was going to
throw the American people over the fiscal cliff into a den of lions waiting to
devour our trust in a nation whose idols are wealth, consumerism, materialism,
unleashed freedom, modeled by a government that overspends and continues to
allow corruption to erode our moral integrity by avoiding actions that need to
be taken.
Perhaps what we need to
reflect upon in light of the sensational drama played out in our
Capitol these past few days is the testing in the desert that Jesus endured before he began his public ministry. Following His baptism by his cousin John, Jesus is led into the desert by the Spirit. Satan tempts Him there, seeing how weak he is after fasting forty days and forty nights:
Capitol these past few days is the testing in the desert that Jesus endured before he began his public ministry. Following His baptism by his cousin John, Jesus is led into the desert by the Spirit. Satan tempts Him there, seeing how weak he is after fasting forty days and forty nights:
“‘If you
are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves’. But
Jesus replied,
‘Scripture
says: Human beings live not on bread
alone but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.’“ (Mt. 4:3-4).
Every time Congress does
not give us what we want, is God saying to us: “Human beings live not on bread alone but on every word that comes from
the mouth of God”?
Satan tempts Jesus
further, taking Him to the holy city and setting him on the parapet of the
Temple.
“‘If you
are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says: He
has given his angels orders about you, and they
will carry you in their arms in case
you
trip over a stone.’ Jesus said to
him, ‘Scripture also says: Do not put the
Lord
your God the test’” (Mt. 4: 5-7).
Are we not constantly putting
God to the test by engaging in immoral behaviors, closing our eyes to
corruption, worshipping idols, chasing wealth as the god that saves, believing that we have been
“given… angels…[who] will carry…[us] in their arms in case…[we] trip
over a stone”?
And finally, taking Jesus
“…to a
very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world
and
their splendor. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all these, if you fall at
my
feet and
do me homage.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Away with you, Satan! For scripture
says: ‘The
Lord your God is the one to whom you must do homage, him alone
you must serve.’ The devil left him, and suddenly angels
appeared and looked
after
him” (Mt. 4: 8-11).
Are we ready to say to
Satan: “Away with you!” Is that the
lesson of the fiscal cliff!
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