After Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan, He was led by the Spirit into the desert to prepare for his public ministry. There He fasted and prayed for 40 days. During this time, his faith was tested by the Evil One.
Jesus was tempted by Satan with the usual temptations that we all face, to choose the flesh over spirit, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread….Matthew 4:3
To possess the world, rather than being good stewards, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’…Matthew 4:6
The pride of life, placing our will over God’s will. Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9
The Liturgical season of Lent is our 40 day retreat in imitation of Christ. We hope and pray to come into a greater intimacy with God our Father…a deeper awareness of our need for His mercy and an unique time to answer Jesus’ call to conversion.
Repent and believe in the Gospel!
Mark 1:15
The original meaning of the word “Lent” in Old English is springtime. It is possible to understand Lent as a kind of springtime for our spiritual lives; a time when the darkness of sin that can enter our souls gives way to the light of God’s grace
Forty days has importance in the Bible, being found 24 times throughout scripture. In Genesis, Noah experiences the flood for forty days and nights until the earth was cleansed from sin and corruption. Moses spent 40 days in the wilderness of Sinai talking to God and writing down the commandments as God would give them.
ON EASTER SUNDAY EVENING JESUS CHRIST INSTITUTED THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOSE SINS YOU FORGIVE ARE FORGIVEN
“In the evening of the same day…Jesus came and stood among them…Peace be with you…. As the Father sent me…so I am sending you…Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'” John 20:19-35
Today, the Church, Jesus founded, is the custodian of conversion, forgiveness of sins, absolution, and reconciliation. It is God’s will that none be lost. I Timothy 2:4
Today, God the Father of mercy awaits our return home. Let us return in the words of the Prodigal Son. I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son… Luke 15:18-19
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives his disciples three spiritual exercises—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—as antidotes to “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” 1 John 2:16
In our modern self-centered, all-about-me world, the concept of fasting is very foreign and many Christians resist it. If Adam and Eve had fasted from the tree of good and evil they would have never lost paradise and intimacy with God, nor passed this inheritance on to us.
By denying ourselves food, we help strengthen our wills —so important in conquering sinful addictions. Fasting brings the appetites of our flesh under control Fasting reminds us who we are and our dependence on God.
Almsgiving is a spiritual remedy for the disordered desire for possessions (“the lust of the eyes”) Almsgiving is not optional for salvation. Jesus does not say in Matthew 6:2“If you give alms…” but “When you give alms…” Jesus assumes that “almsgiving” or other “acts of mercy” will be a regular part of the spiritual life of his followers.
Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:33–34
Jesus clearly teaches that giving to the poor is necessary for salvation. Nowhere is this clearer than in his famous Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. This parable shows the absolute necessity of almsgiving for salvation. “Whatever you did to the least of my brethren, you did to me.” Matthew 25:31–46
THE WIDOW’S MITE
“Amen, I say to you, from her poverty,
has contributed all she had Mark 12:43
Neither fasting nor almsgiving will be of any spiritual value if it is not united to prayer. Pray for the grace to fast, to give alms, and to do works of charity. When a Christian practices the sacrifice of self-denial and joins his sacrifice to the sacrifice of Jesus, the power for good is unleashed in unlimited miraculous ways.
What will your Lenten resolutions be? There are things you might do (commission) and things you may refrain from doing (omission). Here are a few suggestions beyond traditional fasting and almsgiving. You may visit the sick, work on resolving family disputes, reading and praying the Bible, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, attending an extra Mass during week,
There are things you may refrain from such as: talking bad about someone, refrain from seeking attention or praise, refrain from judging others, pray for patience in situations that make you angry like road rage. Watching television shows that appeal to our addictions, playing video games, engaging in social media on the internet….
Lent is the favorable season for renewing our encounter with Christ, living in his word, in the sacraments and in our neighbor. May we utilize to the fullest this holy season of Lent so that when Easter Sunday arrives, we experience a springtime of new life in the Risen Christ.
As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with His death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ.
WHEN CHRIST CALLS A MAN, HE BIDS HIM COME AND DIE!
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
Not my will but thy will be done
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