1st Sunday of Lent Year
C 2016:
As we begin this
season of Lent, we begin this first Sunday by hearing about Jesus’ time in the
desert. I think the barren desert is a
good representation for Lent, because Lent is a time of purification and
fasting. But, I was reading a book by
Pope Benedict the other day and he mentioned that the symbolism of the desert
is more than just the symbolism of fasting.
Rather, he calls the desert a symbol for life without God. Think about it. The desert has no water. It has little life. It can be harsh and cruel. Pope Benedict said that this describes pretty
well what happens to the human race after the fall of Adam and Eve. The human race is wandering in a vast desert
without life-giving water. When Adam and
Eve turned away from God, they led us all into that desert.
But,
Jesus Christ goes into the desert in the Gospel today. He goes out there because that is where we
are. Jesus goes into the desert to find
us. Don’t be afraid to let Jesus find
you this Lent. Don’t be afraid to open
your hearts and minds to him and to his love.
Jesus is out in the desert and he is searching for us.
Now,
the desert is also a place of testing.
In our wanderings around without God, we are tested and we fail. But, when Jesus comes out into the desert of
human experience, he is tested and he overcomes the temptations. How many of us can say that we always
overcome our temptations? Not me, I can
tell you. So, when I hear about Jesus
overcoming temptations, I see a new kind of hope. No longer are we alone out here in the
desert, but Jesus comes with power to aid us in the struggle of our lives. Just let this story sit with you. No matter what your struggle, whether it be a
struggle against sin or some other difficulty in our lives, it might feel like
it gets the better of us. But, it
doesn’t have to be that way. Let this
Lent be the year that Christ finds you.
Let this Lent be the year that he helps you overcome your temptations. Don’t let fear, anxiety, or sinfulness weigh
you down. Christ is out there looking
for you.
I
mentioned on Ash Wednesday that this is a special Lent because it takes place
during the Year of Mercy. It’s the mercy
of God that sent Jesus into that desert.
And it’s the mercy of God that wants to heal and strengthen each one of
us.
During
this year of mercy, I think we should all try to become more merciful as
well. This week we are focusing on the
spiritual work of mercy of “forgiving offenses.” I certainly know from my own experience that
forgiveness is hard. It can be really
difficult to be a person who forgives.
But, forgiveness can be a life-changing event. As I said, Christ comes out in the desert to
find us who are wandering around. He
comes with mercy for the sinner. He
comes with strength to set us free from our own temptations. So, God comes in search of us with healing
and strength, it’s up to us to bring that same healing and strength to
others. If we love and appreciate the
mercy of Christ who forgives us, we can do nothing better than to forgive
others.
So,
how do we forgive? I’m no expert. I’m learning also. But, I think forgiveness begins with an experience
of being forgiven. When was the last
time you asked for forgiveness? When was
the last time you went to confession?
When was the last time you asked a family member for forgiveness? If we want to be forgiving, we first need to
be forgiven. Second, we need to be able
to let go of the hurts that offenses cause.
Look at all Jesus went through.
Today he’s out there in the desert, he is rejected, betrayed, scourged,
crucified. He is completely innocent,
and he goes through all of that. Remember
his response to the people attacking him: Father forgive them, they know not
what they do. If it was me up there on
the cross, I’d say: Father, attack them with lightening bolts from heaven. Not Christ, why? His heart was full of love, he doesn’t hold
on to our offenses. He forgives. Notice those people at the foot of the cross
weren’t even asking for forgiveness. Yet
he forgives. Do you have the courage to
do that? Can you forgive even when
people hurt you, even when you are offended, even when they don’t ask for
forgiveness? If you can, you will
experience peace and serenity even during trying times. If you can’t, you will find that the pain and
hurt you have felt will stay with you.
I
think we all want that peace and serenity that Christ had on the cross. Wouldn’t we love to be able to return offense
with love and forgiveness. But, it’s so
hard sometimes. Don’t worry, Jesus is
out there looking for you. He wants to
help you in your weakness. This week,
ask him for help in forgiving others. Ask
him for forgiveness. Ask him for that
heart of forgiveness that he has. And if
that seems too tough, ask him for the ability to want to be able to forgive. If that’s too tough, ask him for the ability
to want, to want to forgive. Jesus is in
the desert looking for you. Let him find
you. Open your heart to his mercy so you
can be merciful in return.
