Each first Sunday in Lent we hear this gospel of the temptation of Jesus in the desert from the Synoptic Gospels. Today we hear from Luke. In a nutshell, the desert represents a place of testing in the Old Testament and in a practical way the desert situation temps our self-existence, for we are dependent on others to travel in the desert—needing water and food, a guide and more.

Today, Jesus is tested—but the testing of Jesus re-ally is meant to show us how we might be tested by in our Christian journey toward Christ. Today the Lord answers the Devil’s tests with Scripture citations to illumine the way of our journeys and our individual temptations: testing our self sufficiency, our desire for power, our need for con-trol of a situation. In today’s Gospel, Jesus directs us to be-come “our true self,” living our lives in Christ and His Ways. Lent is a perfect time to reexamine our lives, to “go out into the deep” waters of faith and grow our spirituality, and then row back to shore so that upon dry land, we can become His true disciples, bringing mercy and forgiveness to this world of hatred, offering hope to the child in need, bringing consolation to the lonely and lost, and dignity to another human being who the world considers a “waste of space.”

In this traditional season of giving something up, perhaps we can recommit to engagement, and “do some-thing” for someone. Commit to a ministry, to trying some-thing new. If one is unable to get out and work, there are many wonderful spiritual works of Mercy that can be ac-complished in the home and from the couch. A rosary, a simple prayer intention, or a prayer or two for a family or collection of people in need. Last weekend’s bulletin or the parish office or Fr. Michael can be a resource.