The Tempter

"O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam . . ." On this First Sunday of Lent we find the battle lines drawn and defeat already begun. Jesus' confrontation in the desert was no Palm Springs, Las Vegas, or Phoenix! It was the naked, raw, visceral battle with Lucifer that awaited the push of Jesus by the Holy Spirit to now confront this thoroughly unholy and pompous spirit. It was not evil within Jesus but rather the darkness within us that he confronted. Three temptations for bread, power, and self-absortion. It was the sin of Adam which Our Lord battled as the source of original confrontation itself faced off, unmasked and total. The "one more powerful than I" conqured and forever we are the victors. The line was drawn and we know where it is: Jesus or Lucifer?; my way or His?; blinders on our eyes or face in the full Son?