1ST SUNDAY OF LENT: FACING THE DESERT OF TEMPTATION WITH JESUS..........

The Gospel Proclamation for the First Sunday of Lent is the story of the Temptation of Jesus in the Desert by Satan, which in this Liturgical Year C, is taken from Luke 4:1-13. Satan's temptation of Jesus, who had fasted and prayed for 40 Days in the desert was threefold. The devil challenged Jesus, if He were the Son of God to turn a stone into bread. The devil showed Jesus all the worldly kingdoms and promised them to Him, if he would worship Satan. And the devil transported Jesus to the Temple parapet and dared Him to jump off. In each instance Jesus responded negatively to Satan and affirmed his relationship in fidelity to God the Father. He answered the devil directly and succinctly. "One does not live on bread alone". "You shall worship the Lord your God, and God alone you shall serve". "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test". Despite his great hunger and tiredness, Jesus remained faithful to His Heavenly Father not just because Christ is Divine but because he remained true to both the human and divine relationship He is graced to share with God the Father. We are only human and not divine. But as believers in God the Father and followers of Jesus the Christ, we are empowered by the grace of their Holy Spirit to resist the temptation to sin, by our faithfulness and fidelity to putting our relationship with God first, and joining Jesus in the Lenten desert of Repentance, Conversion, Sacrifice, and Self Denial. How do we achieve the repentance, conversion, sacrifice, and self denial, required of us as Catholic-Christian Disciples, but by being committed to the linchpins of Lent : Prayer; Fasting; Almsgiving. As we enter this 1st Week of Lent resolve to make time to Pray more - in the shower, or on your drive or walk to and from work or school, during your lunch break, while exercising, walking your dog, or in place of watching television, playing video games, or spending time on the internet. Fasting voluntary one or more days each week during Lent can be either a fast from food and drink, or giving up one of our social and personal pleasures. Almsgiving or charitable works, are also an essential experience of our journey into the lenten desert. Donating our time, talents, of financial contributions to parish, diocesan, or community charities are an excellent way to fulfill the third linchpin of Lent. Making the Stations of the Cross, and attending daily Mass during Lent once or more a week in addition to Sundays, is also a several centuries old Lenten practice. As you strive to overcome the temptation to sin this Lent acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will concretize your personal repentance, conversion, sacrifice, and self denial, as you join your penitential practices with the Community of Believers and the Temptation of Jesus in the Desert..........A Happy and Productive Lent, Fr. Troy