Repent and believe in the Gospel...

First Sunday of Lent

Gen 9:8-15
Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1 Pet 3:18-22
Mk 1:12-15

In Mark's Gospel, we see Jesus being drawn to the desert by the Spirit, where he remained for forty days. Those forty days were not days of prayer only... We read that Jesus was tempted by Satan. We understand what temptation is in our own lives; but for Jesus, this temptation was a radical one because it was all about FAITH. Would Jesus be able to resist the snares of Satan or would he succumb to Satan's lies? We know that he defeated Satan... and his Father sent the angels to minister to him.

Jesus' time in the desert strengthened him and became the preparation for the beginning of his ministry of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. As time goes on, we see Jesus often leaving the crowd and going off by himself in order to renew himself by prayer and fasting.

We need this kind of renewal also... Our forty days of Lent are a preparation time for us through which we can strengthen our own faith by prayer, fasting and alms giving. Through these practices, we come to appreciate more fully the sacrifice Jesus made for us by his suffering and death on the cross; and the meaning of his glorious Resurrection.

We ask the Lord to make his ways known to us and to teach us his paths; because we acknowledge him as our savior. (Ps 25:4-5)


~ Image: Jesus in the desert - CILent 2012