Today is the first Sunday of Lent. In today’s Gospel we hear Mark’s version of the Temptation of Christ. Like a lot of Mark’s Gospel it is short and to the point, not too many details. A more complete description of the Temptation story can be found in Matthew chapter 4 or Luke chapter 4. Maybe the most important part of today’s reading is where Mark advises his readers to “repent and believe in the Gospel“. That’s certainly good advice for us today too. In fact, it’s so important that it is one of the two formulations for ministers to say as they are putting ashes on our heads. The other formulation, and I think the more common one, is “remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return“.
We too are tempted by the things of this world. That temptation leads to some of us putting something other than God at the center of our lives. St. Thomas Aquinas famously referred to wealth, power, pleasure, and honor (esteem) as idols that men sometimes put before God. During Lent we’re called to look inside ourselves and see what idols we have and to what extent. It’s with saying that there’s noting inherently wrong about money, power, enjoying the good sensual things that life offers, or taking pride in one’s accomplishments. The problem comes when those things are disordered. When we chase wealth for it’s own sake or get crazy in our pursuit of sensual pleasures like food or drink, we have trouble.
In Jesus’ Temptation He deals with the Devil by quoting Scripture. Of course, for Him that was Old Testament Scripture as the New Testament, all about Him, had yet to be written. We have the benefit of having all of Scripture to help us defend ourselves against temptation. This is just one more reason that Lent is a great time to increase your understanding of Scripture.
This is the first weekend of Lent and that means there are thousands of people around the country starting the final leg of their preparation to become Catholic at the Easter Vigil. Yesterday (Saturday) we celebrated the Rite of Election. We had about 34 people preparing for baptism and another 40ish people from other Christian denominations who will be Confirmed and enter the Church that night. Those of you who came through RCIA, now called OCIA, or if you’ve been a sponsor, will be surprised by those numbers. I certainly was. We have about 18 Korean-Americans in that group. They have their own meetings and sessions. The other thing happening here is that this is a university town with a large number of students. Well over half of the non Koreans are students at Auburn University. It’s a pretty amazing thing. It’s clear that God is working in this Church and this community.
Regardless of the number, I know from experience that there are many people, in what must be thousands of churches around the country, getting ready to become Catholic. My prayer for them, as it is for us this Lent, is that they, and we, will turn away from sin and turn more closely to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. I hope you’ll join me in praying for all those preparing to enter the Church whether they’re at Blessed Sacrament, St Michael’s in Auburn, AL, or wherever they may be.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great week.
Peace, Bob
This and That BLOG 