Luke 4:1-13 Temptation in the Desert

"Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days..."

These lines remind us of Jesus' baptism at the Jordan when the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and the Voice of God the Father was heard saying, "This is my son in whom I am well pleased."  The Spirit then brings him to the desert where he is tempted. 

We are all temped every one of us, even once we are baptized.  We are given the fruits of the Spirit to help us in our life's journeys.  What are these gifts from God that we should be aware of and be comfortable employing in face of temptations and life's troubles?  They are wisdom, understanding, fortitude, counsel, knowledge, piety, and fear/awe of the Lord.  These gifts can help us so much.  They helped Jesus in the temptations in the desert.  These gifts of the Holy Spirit helped to lead Jesus our of the desert.  They help us too in our tough times.  When we lose our pride and ask God for help, that is when we can be led by the Spirit the best. 

We are called to conversion and our Lenten journey should help us there.  Let the Spirit guide you in his love and mercy, through acts of kindness and charity toward others. 

John 1:1-18 Light of the World

In John's Gospel we hear a new creation story through the revelation that has given to us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came to be through him and without him nothing came to be.  What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

Christ is our light.  John the Baptist pointed to him as our light and testified to the Light so that others like us might recognize the Savior.  We are born into that light.  We received the Light of Christ at our baptisms, at our confirmations, at every sacrament the Light of Christ is present.  As Catholics we walk our journey through life with the Light that God has given us, knowing that God is there with us.  He is our light and life that animates us with us in his strength, fortitude, compassion and mercy. We are the Lord’s children by his will for John tells us, “To those who accepted him (meaning Christ Jesus) he gave the power to become children of God.”  Through Christ we have come to know Truth and the fullness of grace. 

Christ is the Light of the World.  We are his disciples.  St. Augustine wrote, “We have not only been made Christians, we have been made Christ.”  What does this mean?  There was once a man riding his bicycle along my road.  I watched him from the upstairs window. As he passed in front of my home, he hunched over forward on his bicycle and collapsed with the bike.  I grabbed my telephone and raced outside to him.  As he opened his eyes he saw me looking down at him, and asked, “Are you my angel?”    I couldn’t help but laugh for I have so many flaws.  But for that moment, I was Bryan’s angel.   

None of us is perfect.  We are all flawed human beings.  However, we are instilled with the Light entrusted to us by God.  Remember that children’s song, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”?  It means that people will come into our lives, and need that light to show them the way in the dark, and it is through our love, compassion and mercy for others that the light spreads and brings life to others.  There are so many Bryans in the world, and sometimes I may be in need, and maybe you.  God will provide the opportunities, but we must be willing to share the light and life which has been given to us through Christ.  In giving of ourselves like this, we are like John the Baptist testifying to the Light so that others may believe and have the light of life.  Remember what John tells us in regard to Christ, "What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race." 

We are the face of God to each other.  We are His hands and feet.  Let us strive to act as children of the Light showing mercy and compassion to others through our actions and words.  We ask this in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

(From my reflections)

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Today's Gospel surprises us a little because it is a warning that if we do not heed Christ Jesus' words, we will not be able to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  There are those who will cry out to him but do not follow him, and those who listen but do not obey. 

It seems really harsh in our current era of political correctness we want everyone to be equal and have a "fair share."  That isn't what Jesus is telling us though.  Jesus is reminding us to be vigilant and build within ourselves that firm foundation in Him, in the Father through the Holy Spirit.  Faith is always accompanied by good works.  Upon what does our faith rest?  It rests upon the word of God.  It is his will that we put before our own in faith.  To love God is to desire sincerely to love him.  Because we love him, we wish to be instruments of his love and peace for others in doing his will and spreading the Good News.  In this end, our faith will save us. 

Luke 21:34-36

Today's reading is very short and very important, so much so that it will be repeated on Sunday.  What is the message?  "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap...Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man,"  Jesus says to us.

Be aware of the anxieties of daily life.  It is so easy to get caught up in work, taking care of kids or elderly parents, of planning for the future, of worrying about little things.  These are small tribulations.  We are being told to be aware, get a new perspective, the Lord should come first in our lives; we should be aware that we will stand before the Son of Man in our judgement.  Will we be found worthy?  This is why we should pay attention to what we do and why we them.  Prepare yourself by doing those things that you know to be right and just.