THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were over, he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.' "And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, " To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I will give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours" And Jesus answered him, " It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, "' He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you', "and "On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:1-13
THE THREE PILLARS OF LENT: PRAYER, ALMSGIVING, FASTING
PRAYER
"Prayer makes your heart bigger,
until it is capable of containing the gift of God himself."
St. Teresa of Calcutta
Prayer is a dialogue with God, and like any meaningful dialogue, it requires both listening and speaking.
Consider; what kind of prayer will cause me to open my heart to Jesus and grow closer to him?
FASTING
"Fasting is the support of our soul:
it gives us wings to ascend on high,
and to enjoy the highest contemplation!"
St. John Chrysostom
We are working out our spiritual muscles when we fast. We fortify ourselves to withstand greater temptations when we abstain from a basic physical desire.
For Lent, many people automatically decide to abstain from sweets. It's simple go to. However, if we truly want to use Lent to deepen our relationship with Jesus, we might want to consider how our lives are not entirely healthy, how they are not in line with the best interests of the planet, or how they are not in line with the common good.
Consider; what is diverting my focus, time, or heart from Jesus?
ALMSGIVING
" For it is in giving that we receive."
St. Francis of Assisi
Almsgiving entails putting other people's needs ahead of our own. We understand how others suffer as Christ did, when we take on their burdens.
Consider; how Jesus is requesting that I give freely of my time, skills, or possessions?
"May Mary, Mother of the Saviour
ever faithful at the foot of the cross
and in the heart of the Church,
sustain us with her loving presence.
May the blessing of the risen Lord accompany all of us
on our journey towards the light of Easter."
Pope Francis
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