1ST Sunday of Lent

It was just two months ago that we celebrated Christmas. Remember back to that holiday season? Festive lights, glorious decorations, glittering trees, colorful poinsettias, family meals, joyous celebrations, Christmas gifts. Somewhere in all of that mix, it was likely that there was also a Christmas Nativity scene. Maybe it was a family heirloom carefully set up in a corner so that it wouldn't be disturbed. Or possibly your family Nativity scene last Christmas was hand-drawn artwork by one of your school children that was proudly displayed on the refrigerator. (Maybe it's even still there!)

Wait a minute! Isn't this the First Sunday of Lent? Why all the talk about Christmas? Because like Christmas itself, the First Sunday of Lent always has a Gospel that reminds us that Jesus is truly human! With all the stories of the past few weeks (healings of Peter's mother-in-law, a leper, a paralytic, and the casting out of a demon) we could begin to think of Jesus only as some kind of miracle-worker. To do that would remove him from a clear and concrete association with us. For centuries, the church has clearly taught that Jesus is completely and thoroughly human just as he is completely and thoroughly divine.

Today's Gospel reminds us that Jesus was tempted, just like we are tempted. He had the opportunity to accede to the wiles of Satan. Instead, he emerged from the desert to proclaim a Gospel of repentance. We hear this story of Jesus' humanity as we begin Lent to give us encouragement for the next forty days. We often begin Lent with a lot of enthusiasm. We are ready to change our lives. But changing how we live is difficult, and temptations are rampant. The Gospel tells us that angels came and ministered to Jesus while he was being tempted. Start Lent by asking a friend or a family member to be an angel for you in the next forty days, to ask you occasionally how your Lent is going.

#lent #reflections