Reflection/Homily: First (1st) Sunday of Lent Year C (February 17 2013)

Reflection/Homily: First (1^st) Sunday of Lent Year C (February 17 2013)

Theme: The Temptations of Jesus

This first Sunday of lent, the gospel reading (Luke 4:1-13) presents us with the temptations of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness immediately after his baptism for a forty day period of prayer and fasting. Jesus went to prepare for the commencement of his public ministry. As we begin our annual Lenten observance, it is worthwhile to learn from Jesus’ experience that nobody is above temptation and that the closer we are to God, the more we are tempted. From Jesus’ temptations, we realize that almost all our temptations are either to satisfy the desires of our flesh or to acquire material goods or to presume divine favours under the influence of spiritual pride.

The first temptation of Jesus concerns the human appetite and all that the flesh desires. The devil said to him “if you are the son of God, tell this stone to turn into bread”. But Jesus replied “The Scripture says: No one can live on bread alone.” The devil wanted Jesus to use his supernatural power to satisfy the desire of his flesh (hunger). But Jesus conquered this temptation by proving to the devil that “matter” (food) was not the only thing required for man’s survival and that we must not use what we have to get what we want when it pertains to the desires of the flesh.

Today, we are often tempted to use what we have to satisfy the desires of our flesh. That is why some people use their wealth, influence and position to lure young girls and boys into immorality. Others engage in alcoholism and the consumption of hard drugs while others still engage in all sorts of sexual immorality just to satisfy the desires of their flesh. In conquering this temptation, Jesus is teaching us to consider the desires of the spirit as more important than the desires of the flesh. We should always be aware that the devil knows what is pleasing to our appetite and tempts us with that. Therefore, we should be conscious not to give in to lust, gluttony, and inordinate desires of the flesh for these temptations come when our bodies are vulnerable.

Reflection/Homily: Ash Wednesday of Year B (February 22 2012)

            It was not long ago that it was announced in a parish that the diocesan bishop would be coming to the parish on a pastoral visit. This great event of the bishop’s visit once in four years due to the large size of the diocese was marked with a great preparation. There were renovations within the Church premises, decorations, clean ups, etc just to prepare for the great event of the bishop’s visit. This is an indication that most often, important and remarkable things do not just happen without serious preparations. For an ordination and profession to take place there must have been a period of formation, for graduation, a period of scholarly involvements, serious academic struggles and scholarship, for marriage, a period of courtship and even for Christmas, a period of advent.

            Therefore, the Church as the Vehicle of Salvation has also deemed it wise to prepare Her members for the re-enactment of the Sacred Mysteries of the Death and Resurrection of Our Lord. That is why today being “Ash Wednesday”, we are launched into this great season of preparation we all regard as the Lenten season or period.

           Today’s liturgy has two special characters: repentance and preparation. These special