Daily Readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent - Click Here

Father Kirk's Daily Lenten Reflection
1st Sunday of Lent, March 6, 2022

Like Jesus in today’s gospel we are often experience temptation … the big difference between Jesus and us is that we sometimes give in.  In our lives we often find ourselves doing those very things that we swore we wouldn’t do – like Saint Paul says in the letter to the Romans, "I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want." 

This weekend’s gospel demonstrates the faith of Jesus – a faith that was strong enough and deep enough to face the devil without fear.  It demonstrates in a poignant fashion that the devil – while certainly very powerful – does not have the power to control us or make us do things against our will.  The fact is that the devil has no power over us except the power that we give him.  Jesus’ 40 days in the desert shows us that it is possible to prevail against the wiles of the devil – that the force of good will always ultimately conquer the force of evil; that – in the face of temptation - God is always ready to give us the strength we need – if we are willing to rely less on ourselves and more on God.

The season of Lent is our 40 day retreat in the desert and it is a time to take inventory of our lives and to reflect more deeply upon the things about ourselves that we need to change.  It is a time to acknowledge our sinfulness and to seek forgiveness from God – so that strengthened by His grace we may live good and holy lives … and thus become more and more like Christ.