As I sit to write this column on Monday morning, we are expecting the second major snow storm within a week. While the winter has been quiet so far we seem to be making up for lost time! We’ll see how much this latest blast of winter dumps on us!
Today as we celebrate the First Sunday in Lent, we hear the same gospel we do each year on this Sunday: The Temptations of Jesus in the desert. St. Luke tells us that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit after His Baptism, and was then led directly into the desert. There He encounters the devil and all his allurements.
In hindsight what we understand is that this was as much preparation for Jesus’ public ministry as was His Baptism. Jesus emerges from that desert experience forty days later. He has become more determined than ever to accomplish His mission as directed by His Father and not the Evil one. While He encountered this evil in the desert, His encounter with God the Father was stronger. Jesus had a choice and He shows us how to choose God as well.
Throughout the course of His short life among us, Jesus kept making that choice over and over again. Against all adversity He moved forward until He face the ultimate choice…dying on the cross for us.
May the depth of God’s love grow within us this Lenten Season as we feel drawn ever more closely to Him.