Reflection – First Sunday in Lent

Life is full of ups and downs and we face many battles including spiritual ones. Often situations in our lives cause us to be distracted from the presence of God and from doing what is right. But we’re not alone in our battle to be faithful. Jesus too had to endure many struggles and temptations in his lifetime. In today’s Gospel we hear Saint Luke’s account of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness of the desert. There he was tempted by the devil for forty days. As his body craved food he was tempted to change a stone into bread; as he prepared to preach the good news of God’s kingdom he was tempted by the kingdoms of the world; and finally his spirit was tempted to test his trust in God the Father. Although tempted to all these extremes Jesus remained faithful, trusting completely in the Father. His experiences in the wilderness are not unlike our own struggles with temptation today. We too are tempted by the devil with the lure of power and material goods, but with perseverance and strength we can overcome these temptations, confident in God’s providence and loving care for us.

In many instances in our lives we are so accustomed to listening to the messages we need to hear that we have little space for listening to Jesus and responding to his call. Lent invites us to make a fresh start, to open our hearts to the message of the Gospel and trust in God more. There is no better time to take a step back from the busyness and clutter of our lives and make a step closer to the Lord. Jesus invites us to come back to him with all our heart. As we journey through these forty days, can we find room to respond actively in our lives to the message of the Gospel? We each have been blessed with many gifts and talents. Can we identify how to best use these gifts for the good of others? Even our gifts of hearing and speech alone enable us to communicate and give witness of God’s love, to listen to and proclaim his Word. It is only in the silence of our hearts that we can hear God’s will clearly. Can we make times of silence in our lives to truly listen for what God is saying to us? This Lent let us keep our eyes fixed on the Lord and trust in him for his love and generosity are never outdone.

Author: Patrick Muldoon