by Fr. Tommy Lane
On Wednesday we began the season of Lent which is our preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. It is a time in imitation of Jesus spending forty days in the desert. Jesus fasted in the desert and overcame the devil’s temptations. Jesus never sinned but in the desert he was tempted, and during these forty days of Lent we remember Jesus in the desert as we try to overcome temptation in our lives and to overcome sinfulness. Lent is a time to put our souls before a mirror and see ourselves as we really are. Lent is an invitation to allow our sin and darkness and wounds come to the surface so that we can deal with them and allow them to be healed by the grace of Jesus. During these forty days of Lent, we do not hide from our sinfulness or prevent God speaking to us or healing us during this Lent. It is only when we admit something that we can deal with it. The first stage in overcoming anything is to admit the problem. If we remain in denial, we miss out on the grace of God to heal us and renew us and make us whole. During Lent we say “no” to the devil’s temptations to continue committing sin, and instead we trust in our heavenly Father like Jesus in the desert. The words of Jesus can be our words this Lent: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4) Lent is not only about helping others, about doing something, it is also very much about the type of person we are.
Since the early centuries, the Church has suggested that we undertake three things during Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is for this reason that the Gospel text for Ash Wednesday every year is Jesus’ advice on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (Matt 6:1-6, 16-18). During Lent we want to pray more, fast, and help the poor.
Lent is a time for more prayer. We live busy lives and there is much emphasis on enjoying life but a life without prayer is a life without the joy of the presence of God. If we do not pray, we are not Christians at full potential; we are only walking when we could be flying. Martha was busy serving when Jesus came but Mary spent time with him and Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) Lent is not only about helping others and doing something, but also very much about the type of person that we are. We pray because when we pray, we touch God. God is our loving Father who greatly desires that we allow him close to us. So, we pray more this Lent to experience more of the joy of knowing God our Father.
Fasting is a penance the Church encourages us to undertake during Lent. From the spiritual point of view, fasting symbolizes our dependence on God. It expresses that we really are trying to put God first in our life. The Bible tells us that fasting from food must go together with fasting from violence and fasting from oppressing people (Isa 58:3-12). In other words, when we fast from food, it is to be accompanied by a loving and forgiving attitude towards others. We could say that fasting from food in itself is not what is important; it is what the fasting symbolizes that really matters. So, to fast in a way that is genuinely pleasing to God, can we make an effort to forgive those who have hurt us and not harbor resentment any longer? Why do we need to keep up grudges? Is it merely because we like to be in control? Perhaps to forgive, we also need to give up our need to dominate and control others. If we have a problem forgiving someone, we can share it with the Lord and ask his help and grace so that we may forgive. While we may not forget, we certainly do not want to live being dominated by past wounds. We want to live in the present free of the past.
For almsgiving or helping the poor, the Church makes it easy for us by giving us the opportunity to contribute to Catholic aid agencies. Helping the poor during Lent brings the words of Jesus to mind: “Whatever you did to one of the least of these you did to me.” (Matt 25:45)
The word “Lent” is an old English word which means “springtime.” May this Lent really be a new springtime in the lives of each of us. Through prayer, through fasting from food accompanied by forgiving others and not bearing grudges, and through donating from our surplus to help the poor, may we like Jesus in the desert for forty days overcome temptation and thus be well prepared to celebrate Easter.
Copyright © Fr. Tommy Lane 1999
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More homilies for the First Sunday of Lent Year A
From ashes to new life with Jesus 2020
Overcoming temptation and giving up sin during Lent because we love Jesus 2008
Dying and rising with Jesus during Lent
Related Homilies: Refocusing on Jesus during Lent 2024
Reliving the temptations of Jesus
stories for Lent
Old Testament Readings during Lent