Tempted to do it our way

One aspect of the humanity of Jesus which Jean-Marc Laporte, S.J. shared with attendees of an 8 hour seminar, the Human Jesus, was the event from Luke’s gospel in the Roman Catholic Lectionary entitled the Temptation of Jesus. The choice offered by this temptation episode is to move away from the patterns outlined in the other texts. Deuteronomy calls the reader to recall the “mighty hand and outstretched arm” of God which delivered the Israelite people from oppression and slavery in Egypt. The psalmist implores God to “rescue me when I am in trouble”. Paul exhorts the Romans to remember that the Lord is generous to all and the power of the indwelling Spirit “on the lips” is to bring Divine assistance to all. With the spiritual experience and advice offered in the first texts as background, we see the Human Jesus being enticed to “do it yourself”. My plan and my way and the satisfaction of my ego are the human temptations shared by humans and Jesus. The response of Jesus is also our response to the temptation to put “our way” first. The will of the Divine, as understood by the indwelling Spirit, is the guide. That guidance is toward serving others as liberator, rescuer and giver as we are “moved by the Spirit”.