First Sunday of Lent - March 9, 2025 (Year C)

As we begin Lent this week, the readings do a great job of providing context to our journey over the next six weeks.  In the First Reading, Moses recalls their journey from the promised land down to Egypt and their return.  An important note was made in his recollection, and that was the call of the people to their God.  As we prepare ourselves throughout this season, we need to call on God to help us and give us strength, whether in our fasting, abstaining, almsgiving, or other actions that we have taken during this time to strengthen our relationship with God.  This message is echoed in the Psalm, as we sing out to the Lord to help us when troubles comes our way.  

In the Second Reading, the context of Lent builds as St. Paul reminds us the bigger picture.  God sent Jesus into the world to die for us, and through His Love raised Jesus from the dead.  Keeping this in mind throughout Lent, and the rest of the year, is a great reminder of the greater force at play in our lives.  If we truly believe in what we hear each week about Jesus' Life, Death, and Resurrection, our actions will reflect that amazing truth, and we will be saved.

And finally, in the Gospel, we are shown the lengths to which temptations will be laid out in front of us.  To Jesus, the devil tried to negatively influence Jesus's control of his body, mind, and spirit.  To his body, he coaxed Jesus to turn stone into bread, satisfying his basest desires.  Against his mind, he offered the control over the physical world, attempting to entice Jesus with power and pride.  And to his spirit, he tried to get Jesus to tempt God and by trying to force God into action.  And as we see, each time Jesus repels the devil with lines from scripture to combat all temptations.  Though we are not Jesus, if we call upon God (and Jesus) and recall His Word when we are tempted, as is called for in the Psalm, we can be sure that we will persevere and be rewarded with Love and Mercy.

 

Disclaimer: This will be at the bottom of all reflections, but I’m not intending to put out any sort of professional critique, attempt at a homily, or investigation into the historicity of the readings, but will “let the Spirit move me” as some say, to share what has spoken to me in my reading and reflection on the set of Readings for each week.  

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