Temptation is a Real Test

The liturgy of the 1st Sunday in Lent proposes every year to our meditation the temptations of Jesus. The reason of this choice is it wants to encourage us to face temptations by learning how to identify them and how to get over them, and how to pull ourselves up, by taking the example of Jesus. Like Jesus in the wilderness, we are being led by the Spirit into a forty-day period of prayer and fasting, to help us reflect on the direction our lives are taking.

Temptation is a real test and the worst thing about it, is that it is always an attraction. Temptations are always a testing ground of our faith as they force us to make decisions for or against God. As followers of Christ, we must be ready to stand firm from the evil one. Because Jesus Himself experienced temptations, He understands us in our weaknesses and He is always there to give us hope and encouragement.

God as Our Point of Reference. Overcoming temptation is not an easy business. In fact, it’s impossible without God’s grace. When Jesus was tempted, He showed us what our reference point should be: God. All three times the devil tempted Him, he answered by putting God’s word and God’s will first. In order for us to persevere in our Lenten resolutions, we must center ourselves on God and rely on His grace. That means living close to Christ in Scripture and staying close to Him especially in the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation.

Lord Jesus, in this season of Lent, I want to draw closer to you. I want to love you more than myself and say “yes” to your will in every moment.

We are to Spring into Action During Lent

Ash Wednesday is a call to “Repent and believe the gospel” (Mk 1:15). It inaugurates the Lenten Season. For the next forty days, the Church sets aside for us to prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. In this penitential season we have the opportunity to make an annual spiritual “tune-up”, a 40-day retreat with Our Lord.

The word Lent is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word lengthen or lencten meaning "spring." We are "to spring" into action, to do the tasks of the season, to prepare for the new growth and graces that overflow from Easter. Spring is the most important season for a farmer, for it determines what crops he will plant. Once decided, he prepares the soil thoroughly and plants the seed carefully, hoping that the seed buried deep in the soil will produce an abundant crop.

During this Lenten spring, joyfully dying to self in order to become that fruitful grain of wheat, “unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit…" (Jn 12:24f).

Let us renew our efforts, and through our Lenten observance, that is, prayer, fasting and almsgiving and master them as we “follow in the footsteps of the poor and crucified Christ” (St. Francis of Assisi).

The Holy Father offers some helpful thoughts on our path of conversion as individuals and as a community. The title of the Holy Father’s message for Lent 2014 is “He became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (cf. 2 Cor 8:9). St Paul was writing to the Christians of Corinth to encourage them to be generous in helping the people in Jerusalem who were in need. What do these words of Saint Paul mean for us Christians today? What does this invitation to poverty, a life of evangelical poverty, mean to us today?

These next seven weeks is a time for you to look deep into your heart, to think about your life and how you have been living it.

                                                        Have a Blessed and Fruitful Lent.

Jesus Never Forgets Us!

We are by nature prone to be anxious and troubled about many things. Worry affects each and every one of us. That's why in this Sunday’s Gospel (Mt 6:24-34), Jesus goes on to say, “You worry too much!” We should focus not on what worries us but on how good God is.

When we are tempted to worry about things in our life, we need to also look at Philippians 4:6 – it reads “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God”. We need to be praying about every need, situation and problem in our lives.

You want peace and freedom from worrying, give all your cares to Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7 says cast all your worries on God, because he cares for you. Jesus wants us to give him every worry and concern because He is able to give us everything we need for each and every situation – give it to Jesus!

Jesus never forgets us. We shall give our worries over to the real champion – Jesus Christ!

3Rs:

Release your regrets of yesterday;

Refuse your fears of tomorrow and;

Receive His peace of today.

Love is a Perfect of Justice

“We have heard an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," (MT 5:39)

Is this really justice?  Jesus is inviting us to discover that love is the perfection of justice.

If someone hurts you, don’t play fair; give that person love. When people sin against you or revenge you, they don't understand that they are closing their hearts to God and His love. Christ invites us to go beyond the “tit-for-tat” mentality: “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” 

If we give them love, we give them God by turning the other cheek to them. We bring God and his healing into the situation. Only in the light of humility and forgiveness we can hope to build true peace amongst those around us and even within ourselves.

How to love our enemies? 

We should pray for our enemies. We should show good towards our enemies. We should take courage to forgive rather than seek revenge. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. Be at peace with all people. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Treat others as how you would like be treated. We shall perform one small act of charity every day.

1 Peter 1:22-23: "Let your love for each other be real and from the heart."

Keeping Our Promises!

What Jesus has to say about integrity. In today’s Gospel Jesus says: "All you need say is 'Yes' if you mean yes, 'No' if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one," (Mt 5: 37).

A person of integrity is validated by his or her words and deeds. If we are pure in heart we can be pure in action. Walking in integrity means that I become a doer of the word. Speaking truthfully is better. It takes a lot of stress out of our lives. If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything, but if you don’t tell the truth you have to remember what you said. 

Whenever we make a promise, we do so in the presence of God. When we break a promise, we are not only lying to others or ourselves but we are also lying to God.

How do I get better at keeping my promises?

Monitor your promises: Do you ever say, “I’ll pray for you,” just because it sound like the right thing to say? Do you ever actually pray for that person?

Psalm: "They are happy who follow God’s law!"

Living an honest life, keeping our promises can be difficult. But it will make you happy and you will live in peace. Let’s be honest like Jesus.