“Get away, Satan!”

This coming Sunday will be the first Sunday of Lent. Also, at the 10:00am Mass we will send forth to the cathedral those in our parish who will be entering the Church on Easter. There, the bishop will then officially accept them as candidates for entry at the Easter Vigil. 

The Gospel reading is Matthew's version of Jesus' temptation in the desert. The Season of Lent takes much inspiration from this event, specifically the 40 day length and the emphasis on fasting. In this story, Jesus contends with Satan's temptations to use power for selfish gain, to make a show of himself to impress people with tricks, and to gain the world by abandoning the Father's will. At the end of this story, Jesus says, “Get away, Satan!"

We, as well as those preparing for entry into the Church, are invited to enter into our own "time in the desert." The Church invites us to participate in fasting, in almsgiving, and in prayer in order to reorient our lives toward God... also know as repenting. As is often the case, as we begin this journey we regularly fall or mess up in the things we wish to do... we give into temptation, or we are just weak. But in the midst of this, our works of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are meant to be opportunities to grow in self-discipline. And when we fail, we pick ourselves back up and say, like Jesus, "Get away, Satan!"

So let us pray for two things this Lent: first, that we may indeed grow in self-discipline and therefore in our ability to repent, turning back to God and trying our best to be the men and women God made us to be! Second, let us also pray for our catechumens and candidates, as they make their final preparations for the Easter sacraments and entry into the Church! May our example show them the beauty of the Catholic Christian life, and invite them into the family of the Church with joyful hearts on Easter!

Want to prepare your heart and mind for Mass this weekend? Click here to find the readings this Sunday's Mass.