1st Sunday of Lent

I love baseball! A few weeks ago, every Major League ball player, from the rookies to the All Stars reported for Spring Training. Teams come together months before the start of the regular season to focus their attention on everything baseball-related, work on essential skills like hitting, throwing, fielding and base running and to develop these skills as part of an overall game plan to defeat even the toughest opponent.
 
My friends, today is the 1 ^st Sunday of Lent - the start of our spiritual Spring Training. A time of preparation for Easter.  During the next 40 days, we come together to focus our attention on our relationship with Jesus as we follow Him from the desert to the cross, strengthen essential spiritual skills like prayer, self-control and giving to those in need and to use these skills to recognize and defeat our toughest opponent – the devil.
 
In order to better understand today’s Gospel and the significance of Jesus going into the desert, we must look back to our 1 ^st Reading from the Book of Genesis. It all begins in the Garden of Eden.  As an outpouring of His infinite love, God created the human race in His divine image and established us to live in His friendship forever. In the beginning, our first parents fully trusted God. They freely accepted the permissions and limitations necessary to be in a perfect relationship with Him. And, life within the garden flourished.
 
But then, our first parents were deceived by the devil, an angel who was once good. And who, out of envy for the human race and God’s plan for us, rejected God and turned against Him.  Since the devil is a creature, he can’t defeat God and he knows it. So, he comes after what God loves instead – and that’s us.
 
Now, the devil has one strategy, one play in his playbook and it’s extremely effective. He uses lies to try and convince us that we can find true happiness apart from God. He tries to get us to believe that God is somehow holding us back and that doing things our own way will make us happy in the end. If God really loves us, He would let us eat the fruit from all of the trees in the Garden.  Listen again to the devil’s seductive voice. He’s the most cunning of all creatures.
 
“Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?”

“We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’”

“You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil.”
 
Now, the devil doesn’t play fair. He will do whatever it takes to win, to get us to listen to him instead of God. The devil is a liar, “the father of all lies”.  As a result of the Original Sin, the garden was turned into a desert. And, this is where our human race remains. And, it’s here that the devil has home field advantage.  
 
Do not take this lightly. The power of sin is all around us and perhaps within us.  We all do things we regret. Things that we hate doing, things we know we shouldn’t do, things we don’t want to do but do anyway.  Have you ever wondered why we tend to fall into the same trap over and over again? Because sin is a power which is constantly trying to exert control over us.
 
Remember, the devil only runs one play. He uses lies to try and convince us that we can find happiness apart from God.  His favorite ways to do this are through the temptations of pleasure, power and wealth. He used them to tempt Jesus and he continues to use them to tempt us to this day.
 
After being in the desert and fasting for 40 days, the devil knows Jesus is hungry and tries to appeal to His desire for food, comfort and pleasure by saying, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
 
How often do we look for happiness in the sensual pleasures of food, drink, sex and other things?  Now, deep down, we all want to experience pleasure. It’s a natural part of being human. But seeking pleasure for its own sake will leave us empty.  You see, that wonderful feeling we get is just a side-effect of something we do. It can be something healthy and good for us, like exercise or spending time with loved ones. It can also be something dangerous and even deadly, like alcohol or drugs. Regardless of what we do, the pleasure we feel will eventually fade away.
 
Jesus reminds us, “ One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” True happiness is only found when the things we do are properly ordered toward God and our relationship with Him.
 
So, the devil tries again, this time tempting Jesus to use His power. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down… He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answers him, “ Y ou shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
 
Now, power is something we all want to have. In the United States, it’s often associated with freedom. Does this sound familiar? I want to do what I want, when I want and how I want and I don’t want anyone or anything to get in my way.  Power can also be the influence or authority used to get others to do what you want them to do and the headlines are filled with people who are obsessed with maintaining or trying to gain power.
 
However, power can’t be used to gain lasting happiness because you can’t force someone to love you and real freedom is the ability to do what is right.  Finally, the devil tries to tempt Jesus with wealth by taking Him up to a very high mountain, and showing Him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and saying to Him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8-9) At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! The Lord, your God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve.”
 
Now, I understand the desire for wealth. Being financially secure certainly seems like a legitimate path to happiness. It’s part of the reason why I get up and go to work every day.
In our culture, there are many people who believe if they just have enough money in the bank, a big house, nice cars and a luxurious lifestyle, they’ll be perfectly happy.
 
The reality is, after our basic needs are met, no amount of money or material possessions can fill our desire for perfect happiness. It just won’t work.  Objects tarnish, break and wear out and the feeling of happiness you get after you get something you want always fades over time.
 
We hear story after story of how the pursuit of material wealth, for its own sake, leads to unhappiness, corruption and even death.  Since we are created by God, our one true desire is to return to God. It’s woven into the fabric of our heart and soul.  But, the devil is constantly trying to get us to believe that we can find true happiness apart from God.  So, how do we beat the devil at his own game?  First, know that he’s real and recognize his strategy – he’s a liar. Then, follow and stay close to Jesus who went into the desert to unite Himself to us. And, commit to a spiritual training program during Lent by focusing on three things: prayer, self-control and giving to those in need.
 
Lent is the perfect time to intensify our daily prayer. To unite ourselves to the mystery of Jesus in the desert, we need to find time for solitude and silence to raise our hearts and minds to God in prayer. Set aside time each day for prayer or reflecting on Scripture. Take what is already in place and increase it a little bit.  Don’t have much of a prayer life yet? Try saying a prayer at mealtime, when you go to bed and when you wake up. In the car, turn off the radio and use that time for prayer.  Keep it simple and start small. There’s always room to grow. The most important thing is to begin.
 
Haven’t been to confession in a while? Please go. I assure you Father Jeff, Father Bob and Father Jim are willing to help you in any way they can.
 
Lent is the perfect time to practice self-control.  It’s so easy to get overly attached to created things, which often take the form of pleasure, power and wealth. In prayerful reflection, some good questions to ask are:
 
To what am I giving exaggerated importance in my life?
 Are there things that I do that I need to stop doing?

Pick one and make it a goal.  When fasting from certain foods or beverages, do so in the context of prayer, repentance and almsgiving. Fasting by itself is simply an exercise in willpower. Lent is the perfect time to give to those who are suffering.  In what ways can our time, talent and treasure help our brothers and sisters in need? Prayer, self-control and giving to those in need - Lent is the perfect time to get going!
For more information about ways to make the next 40 days an extra special time for you and your family, please read this week’s bulletin and help yourself to the other materials for Lent located by each entrance.

Remember, as a follower of Christ, you’re on a winning team. And, don’t ever give up!
If you strike out one day, that’s okay. Shake it off. Get back up to the plate and take another swing. To quote one of the greatest ball players of all time, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from getting into the game.” Amen.