1st Sunday of Lent 2008

The Gospel of the first Sunday of Lent always recounts the 40 days that our Lord spent in the desert. During those 40 days he was tempted by the devil but did not give into the temptations. The 40 days that our Lord spent in the desert become the 40 days of Lent, a time when we struggle with the temptations that very often assail us. Our lord over came the temptations and we alone with him can overcome the temptations, these 40 days are supposed to be a sign of what the rest of our life can be like, not lived as a slave but as free.

As human beings we are being tempted. The temptation to eat excessively, drink excessively, spend excessively on ourselves are always there. The temptation to think of ourselves is always there: my point of view, my opinion, my way, my out look on things. The temptation to think only of ourselves is there: my career, my house, my family, my future. The temptations are always there. They can come in all sort of forms. Anyone who doesn’t think that they are there

Sometimes these temptations can be wrapped up nicely, just like the temptation in the garden of Eden was wrapped up as an apple. What harm would it do to eat a fresh apple ? The same way our temptations can be wrapped up. It can seem a good thing for me, a good thing to do, the only thing to do. What harm is there in telling a lie, and before you know it your are telling more than one. What harm is it to be a bit envious of our neighbours house and before you know it is their car, their lifestyle, their job, their success. But the truth is sin always corrupts us. To lie corrupts us. To steal corrupts us. To deal deceitfully corrupts us. To be envious corrupts us.

Lent reminds us that there is a battle going on in our heart between sin and grace, between selfishness and selflessness. Lent remind us that we must be armed for this battle with prayer and spiritual things or else the temptations will overcome us.

Lent should be full of big things not small things. A desire to make a big confession. A desire to really pray hard. A desire to really deny ourselves. A desire to concentrate hard in Mass. A desire to make things right in our lives. A desire to say sorry. A desire to be more caring to others. It should be full of big things. If it is only small things designed to please us or to have successful out comes for us then it is not the spirit of Lent: lent is about pleasing God and struggling with the temptations.

Lent can seem long. Our Lord’s fasting and prayer must have been hard for forty days and forty nights. It is not done for one day and night. So we recognise the battle goes on for us, it needs more from us. It needs serious commitment to see it right through to the end.

Priest

During this season of Lent we recall the 40 days that our Lord spent in the desert in preparation for his public ministry. May these 40 days help us to resist the temptations of the devil and the lure of greed

Intercessor

Through his divine son, God the Father enters into a covenant that cannot be broken, it is the new and everlasting covenant. In Lent we pray that we may be more united to Christ who seals this covenant in the blood of his cross.

We pray to the Lord

In the Old Testament God makes covenant with his people through Abraham, Noah, Moses and David, but these covenant are always broken. May we never separate ourselves from the love of God.

We pray to the Lord

For all who are preparing to be received into the Catholic Church and for all who are getting ready to receive the sacraments for the first time – that they may do all they can to unite their hearts and lives to God.

We pray to the Lord

For all people who in the name of Christ bring relief and support to people in Third World countries – and especially for the success of the Lenten campaign of Sciaf which brings hope to our brothers and sisters in need

We pray to the Lord

For people who experience the darkness of despair and lack of hope in their lives – that this Lent, in which we journey with Christ to his death and resurrection, may strengthen us for the difficulties that we experience in life.

We pray to the Lord

For all who have died in hope of seeing the Christ who overcame the temptations of the devil – especially John Kennedy and all whose anniversaries occur at this time

We pray to the Lord

Priest

Christ your son’s fasting in the desert makes this a holy season of self denial. Help us to die to self so that we may have more space for you in our lives. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Top Comment on this Homily