Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Karen Dietz
Opening Prayer
God, through our yearly observance of holy Lent, may we grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Jesus. Amen.
Scripture
Luke 4: 1 – 13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’ and, on their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Reflection
I recently returned from a retreat in which I prayed with this Gospel for about a day and a half. What struck me was nothing at all about the actual temptations that Jesus faced, but rather the first sentence concerning Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. The devil thought this time of fasting and isolation would leave Jesus weak and susceptible to temptation. It turns out the exact opposite was true. Jesus was so much stronger having spent that dedicated time in deep conversation with God.
We have entered the Lenten season once again. For many of us, this is an intentional time every year. The Church calls us to spend this time in prayer, fasting and giving to the poor. I have dear friends who always want to “make a good Lent.” As I pray with this Gospel today coupled with the second reading from Ash Wednesday (2 Cor. 5: 20 – 6:2) I am motivated in a fresh new way this year. The passage from Corinthians reminds us that we are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation. I don’t know about you, but I am feeling as though our world sure could use a few more ambassadors of God’s mercy and forgiveness. But this is not easy. Bringing the message of forgiveness to a world that has become hardened by suffering, war, illness and division will no doubt be a hard sell. To be an ambassador of reconciliation in a true and lasting way will require us to be strengthened by the grace of God.
One way to be strengthened is by taking full advantage of the Lenten season. Allow the scriptures and the prayers of the season to penetrate your heart, asking God for the grace you need as together we undertake the task. Lean into the community, whether it be family, friends or colleagues. Just as Jesus found strength in the 40 days in the desert, may we find strength in our own Lenten practices. Don’t take this assignment on alone. Rather remember to ask our loving God to supply you with the grace you need to be a reconciling spirit in our divided world.
Closing Prayer
“Be with me Lord, when I am in trouble.”
