Defeating the Devil
Lent's first Sunday
Dear Saints,
This Sunday's Gospel passage recounts the Temptation of Christ. After his baptism in the Jordan and 40-day fast in the Judaean wilderness, Jesus comes face to face with Satan.
*Spoiler Alert* Jesus defeats the Devil.
In his victory over temptation, Jesus rejects the allure of pleasure, power, and money as vain pursuits. The paths of ego-aggrandizement - the wicked ways that sprout from self-centeredness - are many, but not one of them achieves the satisfaction, security, or happiness it promises.
Jesus chooses, instead, faithfulness to his Father, supreme trust in his identity as God's Son, and commitment to the path that is pure self-gift to accomplish his objectives. The reign of God's king is brought about, then, not by worldly success of any sort, but by Jesus giving himself totally and recklessly away (to his Father, for the world) all the way to the death.
Paradoxically, this is the path that leads to life. Jesus' way - that of total self-gift - is the way of restored humanity (i.e. what we were always meant to be). Lent gives us a chance, by trusting and following Jesus, to make it our own.
By prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we can make God and his love the very center and source of our life. By drawing on the strength of Jesus' victory over the Devil - a victory made complete in his death and resurrection - we can reject the allure of power, pleasure, and money to live for God and his purposes.
(Are you looking for a concrete action to start making this way of life your own? Pray the Litany of Humility throughout Lent. Don't think you need to? These 17 signs might prove otherwise. And come to Confession for additional strength and support this holy season.)
I look forward, these next weeks (and months and years), to walking this way together!
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS Welcome Home to Healing is back. Churches in the Diocese of Paterson are open for confessions every Monday night from 7:00-8:30pm. The last Monday for the initiative is March 30th.
PPS Make it a point to join us Friday nights during Lent for Stations of the Cross and Soup Supper. Stations begin in the church at 6:00pm.
PPPS Our campaign to improve the church's audio system will continue through Lent, and could serve as part of your effort to give alms this season. Click here to go beyond the tithe and lend your support.
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
First Sunday of Lent
Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoy, 1872