"He was led by the Spirit into the desert."

Once again we as a Church enter into our annual retreat, also known as the liturgical Season of Lent. This season's origin comes from the preparation of catechumens for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) at Easter in the Early Church. Slowly, the Church as a whole recognized the value in this practice and from it came this holy and solemn time marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; and from these came the tradition of "giving something up" for Lent.

Scripturally, our basis for Lent comes from the Gospel stories of Jesus going out into the desert for forty days. All three "synoptic" Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) contain a version of this story that involves being tempted by the devil. Since we are in the lectionary cycle C this year, we hear Luke's version. Jesus is tempted three times by the devil, first with using his powers for himself (turn stones into bread), then with gaining power and glory by gaining "all the kingdoms of the world", and finally with testing the Father's love for him by throwing himself off the Tempt and seeing if the angels will come and save him. Each time, Jesus responds with fidelity to his mission and to his Heavenly Father.

After all of this, we are told, "When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time." This statement in this story is one that is important for us to hear. For even in the life of Jesus, there was temptation. And even when he had seemingly overcome temptation, it was never truly the end, for the devil was always seeking new and more intricate ways of tempting him.

As our Lenten journeys begin, it may be a time of great zeal and piety. The first few weeks always seem new and exciting; perhaps it will seem that the devil has left us alone, that our discipline has triumphed... but temptation is never far off. Let us pray today that, when the moments of difficulty and temptation come, whether in Lent or in life in general, we may always remain strong in our faith and trust in the Lord and remember the words God speaks to us in this Sunday's Psalm 91: 

Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and glorify him.

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