Guides For Our Journey ~ by Barbara Williford

First Sunday of Lent








The forty day season of Lent allows us to journey. We journey as a community each week at Mass. Readings from this Sunday from Deuteronomy, Romans and Luke remind us that God loves us and will guide us on our journey.

While the Israelites wandered in the desert, God cared for them every day. They were unfaithful to Him at times but He never abandoned them St. Paul tells the Romans that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved". We know that evil exists. The devil tempted Jesus. Can we expect to be free from temptations? No, the temptations are not the sins - yielding to the temptations causes us to sin. The devil tempts those who try to live holy lives.

It was possible for Jesus to overcome temptations because He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He knew who He was and He was aware of His mission. Like Jesus, we can follow His example and avoid the daily temptations to our spiritual life. Most of our temptations center around us. We have an unhealthy need for stability and security; we fear failure and we desire to be successful at any cost. Giving in to these temptations will lead us away from God.

Jesus will help us to change who we are, what we are doing, those things that keep us from living the best lives we can. When you work, use your God-given talents to honor Him.

During Lent, use every available opportunity to pray, to read the Scriptures, to attend Stations of the Cross at church or say them at home daily. You can also offer sacrifices, do penances and make a good confession, believing in God's forgiveness and to renounce the evil one daily.

It is not enough to know what to do; we must do it!