“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” (Mk 1: 12-13)
It was the beginning of Our Lord’s mission—before He started “proclaiming the gospel of God.” As we see, the desert is not empty: “He was among wild beasts and the angels” and tempted by Satan. The desert is more about relationship than about space, and we experience a physical lack so that we can have a closer relationship in the future.
“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.” (Lk 5: 27-28)
A tax collector, a fisherman and a shepherd–ordinary people were invited to “follow Him.” His invitation is not because He needs perfect tools to execute His orders but because He wants to be with us in union and in relationship. And the more we are damaged or alone, the more He is interested in being with us: “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”
“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” (Is 58: 6-7)
Fasting is not for losing weight, but for losing ourselves. It is a very special time to open our hearts, our wallets and our imagination for people in need: the hungry, oppressed and homeless. Every day we can share something with somebody.
“Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord will be with you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Lk 9: 23-25)
Giver or demander? To protect our lives or the lives of our friends? Our goal is “to come after” Him, so we “must deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily and follow Him.” When we think of our friends and our families and when we are concerned about what we can do for them, not about what they should do for us, we have better lives. And this will save our lives.
“Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.” (Jl 2: 13)
“Return to the LORD, your God” not to our own vision of God. Because we are created in His image and His likeness, we are not only responsible to remember this but also responsible to keep this image and likeness vivid and alive. “Return to the LORD” is a program for our whole lives, but especially for Lent, when we are invited to imitate Him in His graciousness, mercy, farsightedness, kindness and forgiveness. Is it a program for me?
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12)
The simple rule. The Golden Rule. And here we are. Surrounded by people: smiling, kind, respectful, gentle, more givers then demanders, listening with understanding, having time to listen to my stories of simple things that have happened, nice and protective.
And the first person that I meet today is me in the mirror. Smiling, kind, gentle…
“A clean heart create for me, o God; give me back the joy of your salvation” (Versus before the Gospel)
“… no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” (Lk 11:29).
“Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but single day’s walk… when the people of Nineveh believed God… When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had treated to do to them; he did not carry it out.” (Jonah 3:3-5. 10).
How difficult was this mission for Jonah. Assyrians were enemies. Jonah really liked God’s plan to destroy Nineveh. Especially because it was God’s plan. Jonah, the Israelite, was chosen to deliver the message about the chance to repent they’d been given.
Our enemies are also God’s children. Without His grace – and the opportunity to repent – they will die.
“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.” (Verse before the Gospel).
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40)
To see Him. How much easier it would be for us if only we were be able to see Him. The hidden God. Or… we do not look in the right direction: “these least brothers of mine”.
It is such a comforting thought that I am so important for Him. I am His least brother, sister. And whatever you did for me, you did for Him.
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Mt 25:34-36)
“He said in reply: It is written: …” (Mt 4:4)
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Second Person in the Holy Trinity, the Eternal Word, used only the Bible in His dialogue with the tempter. He didn’t use any other argument. He only repeated three times: it is written. And it was enough. “The devil left him” (Mt 4:11).
I followed this example and found the appropriate sentences in the Bible for some of the devil’s temptations. And instead of fighting with him by myself, I am hiding behind the shield made by His Word.
“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4) – Communion Antiphon
“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” (Is 58:6-7)
It is so important. Our way back to Him leads through people. When I look at Him, I should see people in need. We always have a little bit more than the others – sometimes more bread, sometimes more time, even one minute to listen to somebody; this one minute could be a shelter for the oppressed and for those who have nobody at home to talk to about their needs; your good word or a look full of love could be a clothing for somebody who’s “naked”, whose inner “skin” is fragile and wounded. God needs us to proclaim His Good News, He needs us to show His love and mercy. We need also help, but when we forget a little bit about ourselves and pay attention to the others…
“Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!” (Is 58:8-9)
