Time is made from honey slow and sweet, only the fools know what it means
Temptation
Lyrics by Tom Waits 1987
We deal with temptations all our lives. We are tempted by food, the love of money, expensive clothes, to do something we know we should not do, to want something we cannot have . Temptations are all around us every day; at school, at work, at home; everywhere!
As people of faith, we need only follow the example of Jesus in dealing with temptations, even the deceit and the tricks of the devil.
First of all, a Blessed and Happy Lent. With much anticipation, hope and even joy, I look forward to Lent every year. Ash Wednesday, the reminder that we are dust and to dust we shall return, prayer, fasting and almsgiving, Friday’s in Lent that are not so bad in south Louisiana thanks to seafood and fish fry events like the ones our own Knights of Columbus hosts every week, special devotions like Stations of the Cross, the color of purple, a parish mission(a really exceptional one this year), increased times for confession, internal reflection not just on my own mortality, but my own need for the loving forgiveness and mercy of the Father through His Son, Jesus, because I am but a lowly sinner. Yes, I love everything about Lent.
I love this Gospel. How dare the devil tempt our Lord who retreats to the desert right after He was baptized by John in the Jordan River! Think about this, if Satan goes after Jesus, won’t he come after us? The answer is yes. He did so successfully against our first parents, Adam & Ever but Jesus shows us how to stand strong against the temptation of the devil, which are the temptations of this world leading us away from God and God's desire for us to spend eternity with Him. Three temptations, three offers by Satan to Jesus in his desert retreat and three times Jesus refuses to be mastered by the master of evil. Instead Jesus, according to Pope Benedict, writing in his brilliant book, Jesus of Nazareth, says: like Jesus we are to go to the Father when tempted. We are to never cast God aside from that which tempts us in this world. No matter how hot or cold, hungry or thirsty, no matter how attractive worldliness seems, follow the model of Jesus in the desert and say no to the devil. Make God first, let Him mold us and teach us His ways.
The pillars for you and me to follow in Lent are as follows: prayer, fasting, almsgiving along with frequent confession, a really good confession and totally embracing our penance. There are numerous helps, many on the internet from reliable Catholic sites to explore the best ways to be attentive to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Perhaps, as a personal devotion, we might want to increase our own mass attendance, going to confession even praying at home from Scripture, may I suggest the 51st Psalm; have mercy on me Lord, in your kindness, blot out my offense.
During Lent this year we will be suspending communion from the cup. Flu season has been brutal this year and let’s face it, all of us are a bit curious about this coronavirus thing. But this is also a teaching moment. Let’s make sure, as Catholics, we understand the theology of the Eucharist which teaches us that in that sacred host, in Jesus, we have His body, blood, soul and divinity. As a Catholic, never say you did not receive His Precious Blood because a chalice was not available to you. This would be wrong. In that sacred host is the fullness of His body & blood. As important as the Eucharist is, and it is the source and summit of our Catholic faith, so too is immersing ourselves in the Holy Word of God. Just a few weeks ago, at the request of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, we celebrated Word of God Sunday. Guess what? Every Sunday is word of God Sunday and every day can be, should be Word of God day! To that end, we at St. Jane have offered ongoing Bible study for almost four years now. We offer classes morning and night so many can attend. Everyone is invited. When Lent, and Easter weekend are over, we will again offer a Bible study on the Eucharist in Scripture. Not only will we discover the Eucharist among the words of Holy Scripture, we will examine the Catholic teaching that the Eucharist is what we claim in faith it is; not it but who; it is Jesus Christ, really, fully present, and like said earlier, His body, His blood, His soul and His divinity. Why not join us? This will be a very spiritually fulfilling Bible Study. Remember, Jesus defeated Satan in the desert calling upon Holy Scripture!
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