OSF Reflection: 1st Sunday of Lent

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 12-13, 14

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

Reflection: Each year, when the Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, we are given an invitation to enter into the desert with Jesus for 40 days and 40 nights.  In today’s Gospel, we hear about Jesus being led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil.  It is no coincidence that Jesus goes into the desert after his baptism.  Jesus recognized the importance of taking time away to prepare himself for his ministry and all that he would experience.  

The new year recently started and many of us were looking at what changes we might make in this new year.  This time invites us to take some time away to look at how we are doing so far with the new year.  The invitation to take a look inwardly is the work of discernment and also penance.  For the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, also known as the Third Order Regular of Penance, reflecting inwardly is what leads to conversion or change of heart and this is what true penance is when it is taken seriously.  As we enter into this penitential Season of Lent, let us remember that penance is not just denying ourselves certain food or treats, nor is it just saying a number of prayers to atone for our sins.  When we do the true work of penance, we take time away, as Jesus did, as St. Francis did, to inwardly reflect - to discern how we can live differently in this world, how we can view the world differently to see through the eyes of Jesus and turning from self towards God and the needs of others.

Jesus was tempted three times in the Gospel.  Each temptation asked Jesus to rely on his own resources by showing the devil what he could do rather than to rely on God to make it through this long time in the desert.  We, too, experience temptations.  What we do with these temptations is what is important.  Do we take the easy way out of this hard work of penance or do we do the work that it requires for a true conversion of heart? Let our “time in the desert” during this Lenten Season be a time when we do the difficult work of true penance by inwardly reflecting to embrace a conversion of heart to see God in everyone and everything in the world around us.

Prayer: Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out your holy and true command. Amen.

Brother Joseph Bach, OSF