Today we observe the 1st Sunday in the season of Lent.
Our Gospel accounts for us our Blessed Lord going into the desert in order to fast and pray for a period of 40 day and nights. While there the devil comes in order to tempt Him, but the Lord remains steadfast against his attacks.
In the Book of Exodus Moses led the Israelites into the desert and there they toiled about for a period of 40 years until they made it to the Promised Land. This is symbolic of our own life where we toil about in search for the Kingdom of Heaven.
This season of Lent aids us in making such a journey as we undergo this period of 40 days. It is easy for us to toil about and find that we are lost. No matter where we find ourselves today hope is always found in the Lord. Through Him has the world been redeemed from the plight of sin and death.
The Lenten season connects us to the waters of baptism. From these waters spring forth new life as one comes to be claimed for Christ Jesus. In the dryness of the desert there is this longing for such water to bring life unto us.
When we arrive at Easter Sunday we will have the opportunity to renew our baptismal promises. The proper response is “I do.” Do we truly mean these words or do we simply state them because this is the proper response?
Through our practice of Lent we allow the Lord to assist us in making such a response with the firmness of faith. Through those ancient practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we form our heart and soul to dwell with the Lord our God.
For in this world there are many voices which come our way which attempt to lead our heart away from the Lord. This is the same voice that came to the Lord in the desert, but He rebuked that voice. We must treat our faith with sincerity in order that we too may heed the Lord and His presence among us.
Where sin is found we must be found willing to humbly go before the Lord and ask His forgiveness. This Thursday our parish will hold its Lenten Penance Service where we will have nine priests who will assist with the hearing of confessions. Do not pass up this or other opportunities to partake of this sacrament of God’s mercy.
May this Lenten season be fruitful for us because this season leads towards the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection. This celebration is most important for through it we come to profess the Lord’s triumph over the tomb. Where we have been thrust down into sin and death we must place our trust in Him in order to be lifted out of it. His words bring life to us and so may we turn our sight unto His and allow our thoughts, words, and deeds to dwell with Him always.
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