The Winter Olympics are with us again and I’ve been watching when I can. I really enjoy the speed skating events; particularly short track. I follow the accomplishments of some of the more familiar names, Apolo Ono and Shani Davis.
I came across another name in U.S. speed skating recently, Kristin Holum. Kristin was but a 17 year old, battling exercised induced asthma, competing in the 3,000 meter race in 1998. In her first Olympics, she placed 6th. Quite an accomplishment for a teenager! The sport world predicted a bright future with plenty of medals. Kristin however was hearing another call. This would not be the call of gold medal ceremonies and singing the national anthem. No Kristin’s calling was much loftier than the Olympics.
Kristi never made it to another Olympic Games. Today she goes by the name Sister Catherine, a Franciscan nun serving as a missionary in England after working with inner city youth in the Bronx. Her superior is impressed with her enthusiasm and dedication as a nun and even says she posses the compassion of an angel.
Sister Catherine talks about the temptations she faced as she continued to discern God’s calling for her. Temptation came from the sports world, from family and friends and from herself as she sought to do God’s will. For her, the temptations and challenges were overcome and now she could not be happier.
We all face many temptations in our lives too. Some of them deal with our physical life or our mental state. Yet we also face temptations in our spiritual life too.
As people of faith, what are those temptations we must overcome to do God’s will in our own lives?
In today’s Gospel from St. Luke, on this first Sunday of Lent, Jesus gives us a model to follow. This model is the many temptations of the devil as Jesus retreats to the desert wilderness. For forty days we read that Jesus ate no food so the devil begins with a temptation to appeal to Jesus’ hunger. When Jesus avoids that temptation of the devil he turns his efforts to worldly power instead of the power of God. Again Jesus avoids this temptation as well. Finally, the devil tempts Jesus with an opportunity to exercise a self-directed display of his own power and deny God completely. Again, Jesus perseveres and cast the temptation aside and remains steadfast in following the will of His Father.
This model that Jesus gives us is one we must come to rely on as we face our temptations. Our temptations during Lent are no different than the temptations we face all year long. Perhaps during Lent we are more aware of our own weaknesses in the face of temptation. Perhaps we are focusing in these early days of Lent on the penitential nature of this season. We may be faithfully pursuing our Lenten pledge to give something up or do extra works of mercy. Hopefully, we are aware of our faithful commitment to abstain from meat on the days prescribed and to fast as well. Perhaps we are making a stronger effort to pray more or attend Mass during the week or Stations of the Cross on Friday nights. And we may respond to the call to be particularly generous to the poor and the weak in these days of Lent.
All these things are good and can strengthen us in warding off our temptations. If done, however, for a mere external show, then temptation will still have a fighting chance. Notice where these temptations of Jesus occurred; they were in the desert; far from town, away from the eyes of the people and the religious leaders. Again, Jesus is giving us a model to follow.
Temptation, and sin for that matter, is most completely defeated within the interior disposition of our lives; of our very souls. Just as the temptation of Jesus ended in glory being given to God, so it may be with our own temptations. Temptation need not be a cause for despair, rather an opportunity to exercise our faith and let our love shine through. But the battle over temptation and sin must be won deep within our hearts and our souls; just as Jesus did in the desert.
Where is our desert? It can be our own home; it may be within the structure of our own family. The desert may creep in at our jobs or at school. Our friendships sometimes may feel like a desert. These are just a few of the possibilities where the devil will tempt us. Can we recall this beautiful Scripture reading today when this occurs? This is our challenge as we leave here tonight and face the week ahead.
Over the next few days, aware of our Lenten journey, join me in being more aware of our personal prayer life. How deep is our prayer? How personal is our prayer? Do we pray daily? Join me in a personal assessment of our desire to do penance faithfully and joyfully. If we have given something up for Lent do we understand why? Is it something that I do with joy for God? Do we call undue attention to ourselves because we are fasting or giving something u? Join me in determining if we are doing what we can in giving alms; in helping the needy and the poor? Do we pass up that poor box at the back of church and if we do, can we make a stronger commitment this week to prayerfully consider our contribution? Can we volunteer at a charity that gives a hand up to those in need? Does our prayer life include sincere prayer for the least among us?
And in the week ahead, can we make a personal commitment to visit Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Temptation will still occur. Sin still will enter in. But we have an example today to take with us into the night; the example of Jesus in the desert. And we have an example too in Sister Catherine; who overcome temptations to serve the Lord in the way he was calling her to do! And for that, she deserves a gold medal and it’s a gold medal we all can claim!
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