For the last few years, some nonsense has erupted in the popular media regarding Jesus.  First, it was the DaVinci Code.  Last year, it was the so-called “Gospel of Judas.”  This year, James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of Titanic, has produced a documentary called “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.”  This film, scheduled to air on the Discovery Channel on Sunday evening, purports to present evidence that a tomb discovered in 1980 in Jerusalem and containing a few ossuaries (bone-boxes) is actually the tomb of Jesus and, among others, Mary Magdalene and their son.

In an effort to make the whole thing seem plausible, there is some statistical analysis on the names inscribed on the ossuaries and some DNA “evidence” presented.

 Now, there are so many holes in Mr. Cameron’s theory that the film could double for a block of fine Swiss cheese.  For example, the statistical analysis is flawed because the names involved (Yeshua and Maria) were even more common names amongst ancient Jews than Joshua and Mary are among modern Americans.  At least one scholar does not even believe that the name on one of the ossuaries is Yeshua.  Stephen Pfann, of the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, believes that the name is actually Hanun.  He points out that ancient Semitic script is notoriously difficult to decipher.

 The so-called DNA evidence in reality shows nothing that can be used to back up Cameron’s claim.  Mitochondrial DNA does not reveal genetic coding, and, besides, there’s no control sample (from the family of Jesus) to compare.  Of course, say “DNA” and everyone thinks of CSI and believes that the whole film must be true.

And there are many other points as well.  For example, one of the inscriptions is supposedly “Yeshua bar Yosef” (Jesus, son of Joseph).  Judeans identified themselves in that way, but Galileans did not.  Galileans identified themselves by their place of origin, as, for example, Jesus of Nazareth.  Moreover, Jesus would not have had a tomb in Jerusalem anyway.  First of all, he was too poor.  Secondly, he wasn’t from there.  That, incidentally, is why they had to borrow a tomb from Joseph of Arimathea after the Crucifixion.

 I could go on.  Of course, anyone would expect me to dismiss this nonsense.  What is most interesting, however, is how much criticism the film is taking from non-Christian, Jewish, and secular sources.  Joe Zias, former curator of archaeology at the Israeli Antiquities Authority has described the film to the Washington Post as “hyped up film which is intellectually and scientifically dishonest.”  Even the Washington Post itself, no friend of Christianity, has been highly critical of the film.

Personally, I can’t make up mind about what is most distressing in the whole episode.  Is it the lack of critical thinking? The ignorance of history and archaeology?  The lack of knowledge about Scripture?  The malice?  The greed?

 What is going on in our world?  I think the answer can be found in our second reading today, from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is their destruction.  Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their ‘shame.’  Their minds are occupied with earthly things.”

All of these attacks on Jesus, including this latest one, are nothing less than a concerted effort to undermine the faith of those who are weak and to lead them astray.  The mastermind of this assault is Satan.  He tempts people.  He wants them to turn their backs on the Truth.  Now, of course, I doubt any of these folks involved in this offensive believe that Satan is real, still less that they are under his influence.

And that has been the devil’s greatest accomplishment in the modern world: to make people think that he doesn’t really exist.  He doesn’t need folks to “worship” him directly.  He gets his way when we begin to worship ourselves.

 Lent is the season to root out in our own lives all the many ways that Satan fools us.  It is the season to grow in the virtue of humility and allow God to reveal to us the truth about ourselves: that we are weak and sinful, but loved nonetheless.

 Satan hates us and lies to us, yet so many in the world are so quick to believe what he says.  Jesus loves us and tells us the truth, yet so many in the world refuse to believe Him.