As we begin the season of Lent, it’s a good time to go back to the basics. For us Catholics, that means we focus on the three things Christ taught us we need to do in order to become holier: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. When we read this Sunday’s Gospel, of the temptations of Christ in the desert, we can see how these three practices fight against the devil’s three temptations he offered to Christ.
Fasting combats the first temptation–to command stones to become bread. Fasting reminds us that while we humans are both body and soul, the body does not always seek correctly. Especially in the areas of food and sexuality, our bodies always drive us to want more, even though it isn’t good for us. Fasting helps us to regain control of ourselves and use the gifts God has given us correctly.
Prayer combats the second temptation–to throw himself down from the parapet of the temple. Prayer helps us maintain a proper relationship with God. Part of this relationship is recognizing who God is and what is proper to him. In this case, the proper relationship is recognizing that God is the Lord of life and of death. Prayer also helps us to recognize God’s voice as opposed to the voice of our enemy.
Almsgiving combats the third temptation–to worship in return for wealth and power. Almsgiving reminds us that nothing we have is merely ours. It is a gift that we have been given, and it is a gift we are expected to share.
It is good to pick at least one practice, each Lent, in each of these areas. What am I going to give up this Lent that will help me grow closer to God? How will I strengthen (or build) my life of prayer to grow closer to God? What will I give of myself that perhaps I really would prefer not to? These practices should be challenging but doable.
As we embark on this journey of Lent, let us remember our goal: to unify our hearts with the God who loves us.
Fr. Matt