Pastor's Letter -- March 6th, 2022

Beloved parishioners,
Every year, on the First Sunday of Lent, the church gives us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ desert experience. Immediately after his baptism the Spirit leads Jesus into the desert where after fasting for forty days and forty nights he was hungry, and was tempted by the devil. Imagine for a second what forty days’ worth of hunger might feel like. The devil comes in Jesus’ most vulnerable moment and tempts him with what he needed the most at that time, food. He tells Jesus to use his divine power to solve his human need, which is akin to asking him to deny his human experience while displaying his divinity. Hunger is a reality in our world. It can either make one vulnerable to evil or open one to God. Like Jesus, we too could be hungry. But the questions that follow are: What are you hungry for? How do you relieve your hunger? Would you satisfy your hunger by worshipping the devil or doing his bidding? Do you have any questions in your heart that Jesus could provide for his own needs? If he could turn water into wine, and multiply loaves and fish to feed thousands, could he not make bread for himself out of stones? Of course he could. But why didn’t he? Because he does not take orders from the devil. If Jesus does not, so we must not.

Notice that the devil does not stop after being unsuccessful with the first temptation; rather, he goes on and on, in hopes of getting Jesus to do according to his request. And when he fails, he leaves Jesus and returns at an opportune time. In our own lives, we too are faced with one temptation after another. We are victorious in some cases and victims in others. The tempter does not stop, because he believes that some day we will give in to his suggestions. But thanks be to God, we have the victory in Christ Jesus, who is our head and example. Just as the temptations of Jesus are archetypical of the temptations that we go through every day of our lives, his victory is an example for how we too can triumph over Satan and his lies.

We too go through our own desert experience every day; but most especially during these forty days of Lent. Through prayer, fasting, and acts of charity, we should strive to renew and re-dedicate ourselves in following the Lord closely. The desert is not only a place where our faith will be tested; it is also where we encounter God and our faith is perfected. If we allow Jesus to accompany us on our journey, our desert will blossom into a green land with rich vegetation. Let us be vigilant about the temptations and suggestions of the evil one. These suggestions could come in various forms. The devil is cunning enough to know when we are going through difficult times, when we are at our weakest, and when we are most predisposed to fall. Watch out for those moments when you do not have the desire to pray or to meditate on God’s Word. Watch out for those times when going to Mass is more a chore rather than a strong desire to be in God’s house. Watch out for those times when getting even with those who offend you seems to be the best you can come up with. Watch out for those times when friends are verbally unkind about others and they invite you to join in. Watch out for those times when old bad habits you have worked hard at changing begin to seem pleasant to your eyes. Watch out for those times when the desire for a sense of belonging overrides the desire to do what is right, when saying no to bad company makes you feel left out.

May our Lenten journey of forty days bring about in us a metanoia, a sincere repentance and conversion of our hearts. Amen.

With blessings from my heart,