Gospel Reflections for March 1 2020
Temptations
The Season of Lent always begins with this dramatic story of Satan cleverly tempting Jesus at the end of His 40 day retreat in the desert.
The devil knows exactly how to tempt you as well, which is always when and where you are most vulnerable.
Satan cleverly waits until the very end of Our Lord’s 40 day journey when He will be starving for food, feeling weak and powerless, and feeling alone. Satan targets Jesus precisely in those three areas.
Right when Jesus is most hungry He is tempted to turn stones into bread. Right when Jesus feels powerless He is tempted to showcase awesome power. Right when Jesus feels alone He is tempted to possess all the kingdoms of the world.
The devil is tempting Jesus to use His divine power to change the world. Jesus will not do that. He will only use love, and especially the sacrificial love He shows on the cross.
Our Lord teaches two ideas here. Temptation happens to everyone …and love stops every temptation.
You are in good company with Jesus whenever you feel tempted to any kind of selfishness. Your brain is simply presenting options to you, and thinking only of yourself is just one of them. Nothing wrong in that, as long as you refocus on love and resist that selfish temptation.
If Jesus thought only of His own needs He might have given in to Satan. His love for you and your salvation prevents that. His focus on you ensures He will not fall for Satan’s ideas. His desire for your lasting happiness continues His mission.
Lent is a great time to discover your own vulnerable areas of selfishness. Is it food or drink, bad language, laziness, envy, gossip, or some other habit? Knowing yourself well and where your weak areas are can help you anticipate problems before they develop. Changing to better health habits could also help resist the new Coronavirus as well. A relatively few sick people have inspired the world to practice good health.
Lent is a great time to measure your heart too. How much of your day is spent thinking about yourself …or how you can help the people around you?
Lent is also great time to measure your knowledge of Our Lord. Decide now to attend University Series Classes (theuniversityseries.org) and connect more deeply with Our Lord.
You will always have temptations, so practice love as Jesus loved to find the lasting happiness that is His will for you.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
This Gospel is thought provoking as are all of them. Makes me wonder how History would be changed if Eve had Said NO to the serpent, or if Adam had said NO to Eve.?
Being a Man ,I get to be the Lector in proclaiming the Scripture.
Being Married I know how Adam felt and the reaction when I say NO to my wife.
Lent gives me more insight in Spiritual and Marital life.
Yes, thank God we have the season of Lent to think more deeply about our faith and our life. I wonder how history would have changed as well. Great question.
I think that the Stations of the Cross is one of the good practices for Lent. It brings to mind the suffering that our Lord experienced for love of us and for our salvation. It gives us a mindset to avoid temptation.
I am blessed to be a participant in the Stations of the Cross as presented by the students of Thomas Aquinas College. Participation is open to anyone on their website
An internet Stations of the Cross! How thoughtful of the TAC students to think of that.
Beautiful words Father Dave!! Truly Lent is a time to become the person our loving God created us to be!! To grow in love and be there for others!! To live our precious Jesus’ love, grow in His love, and share it with others is the heart of Lent for me!!! We are so blessed with our life, our precious Faith our loving Jesus , our beautiful Blessed Mother, our loving God!!! We must respond to LOVE in Love!!! Your beautiful University series help us do that!!! Have a beautiful day overflowidng with our loving Jesus and our beautiful Blessed Mother’s Divine, sweet LOVE!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
‘Love the picture, Fr. Dave! Which one will he choose?
It takes discipline to say no to temptations.
We were at an informative talk on Thursday night by Fr. Sandoval
It was about the “Why and Who” of how things happen.
It was uplifting to hear some new approaches that can bring us closer
to the Lord.
Thank you for facilitating great speakers for our reflection during Lent..
You are welcome. I am glad you enjoyed his presentation. I am sure he will be back next year as well.
Hi Father. My family down in the South Bay are wondering if there’s still a University Series down there. I remember they had a different name for their website. Thanks.
Btw, the Young Adult Group that you may remember I started is still going strong. We meet the first Tuesday of each month with a different speaker. I have used many of the University speakers and am “recruiting” more this year again. You have a standing invitation anytime you’re in Moorpark on any first Tuesday.
God bless you,
Jim and Vicki
The South Bay program changed its name to “Dive-In!’ but I am not sure if it is still going or not. Congratulations on the continued good health of your Young Adult group. I am especially glad that you are using some of the University Series speakers. Great idea! Thanks for the invitation to join you some time. I will keep that first Tuesday schedule in mind. Congratulations again. You are a great entrepreneurial minister!