Beloved in Christ,
We come to the First Sunday of Lent after beginning our union with Jesus in his forty days in the desert on Ash Wednesday. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert" (540). In Jesus' temptation in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11), the Bible reveals how the Son of God comes to reverse or recapitulate the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:1-7. Jesus, God-Man, who is like us in all things but sin (Heb. 4:15) succeeds where the first Adam fails. Jesus is not only the new Moses but the New Adam who conquers the "triple concupiscence" of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (Cf. 1 Jn 2:16) which the first Adam fell to.
How, like Jesus, can we conquer these threefold foundational temptations? Jesus shows us how, in our reading from Matthew 6 on Ash Wednesday, in the three pillars of Lent- almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. These spiritual disciplines are the tools of God's grace to help us in spiritual battle against sin; they are our weapons for self-mastery. When we fast, whether from food or social media, we are renouncing the dominance of pleasure over us; when we give alms, we detach ourselves from possession by earthly goods; and when we pray, we humble ourselves to the Lordship of God.
Do you want to grow in holiness and grace this Lent? Do you want to walk closely with Jesus? Do you want to overcome the lures of the tempter, the Serpent? Lent provides a good opportunity to walk with Jesus, to be with him in the desert. In the desert of silence and self-examination, we are alone with our very selves, naked before God, in confrontation with ourselves. In the desert with Jesus, we come to recognize the devil's lies, which distort truth, make sin plausible, and lead us down a false path in moments of weakness. We gain grace from the example of Jesus. Jesus has led the way; he has shown us how to win spiritual battles. All we need to do is go into the desert and allow Jesus to lead us.
We have opportunities, especially during Lent, to unite ourselves as a community with Jesus by attending Mass and adoration, going to confession, praying the Stations of the Cross, and praying the Rosary as a community. Please consider giving more of yourself to Jesus through the discipline of Lent. Fast, give Alms, and pray more than you did before Lent.
Have a Happy Lent!
Fr. Alayode, OP
We come to the First Sunday of Lent after beginning our union with Jesus in his forty days in the desert on Ash Wednesday. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert" (540). In Jesus' temptation in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11), the Bible reveals how the Son of God comes to reverse or recapitulate the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:1-7. Jesus, God-Man, who is like us in all things but sin (Heb. 4:15) succeeds where the first Adam fails. Jesus is not only the new Moses but the New Adam who conquers the "triple concupiscence" of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (Cf. 1 Jn 2:16) which the first Adam fell to.
How, like Jesus, can we conquer these threefold foundational temptations? Jesus shows us how, in our reading from Matthew 6 on Ash Wednesday, in the three pillars of Lent- almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. These spiritual disciplines are the tools of God's grace to help us in spiritual battle against sin; they are our weapons for self-mastery. When we fast, whether from food or social media, we are renouncing the dominance of pleasure over us; when we give alms, we detach ourselves from possession by earthly goods; and when we pray, we humble ourselves to the Lordship of God.
Do you want to grow in holiness and grace this Lent? Do you want to walk closely with Jesus? Do you want to overcome the lures of the tempter, the Serpent? Lent provides a good opportunity to walk with Jesus, to be with him in the desert. In the desert of silence and self-examination, we are alone with our very selves, naked before God, in confrontation with ourselves. In the desert with Jesus, we come to recognize the devil's lies, which distort truth, make sin plausible, and lead us down a false path in moments of weakness. We gain grace from the example of Jesus. Jesus has led the way; he has shown us how to win spiritual battles. All we need to do is go into the desert and allow Jesus to lead us.
We have opportunities, especially during Lent, to unite ourselves as a community with Jesus by attending Mass and adoration, going to confession, praying the Stations of the Cross, and praying the Rosary as a community. Please consider giving more of yourself to Jesus through the discipline of Lent. Fast, give Alms, and pray more than you did before Lent.
Have a Happy Lent!
Fr. Alayode, OP
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