As we have now entered the season of lent ,we are called to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.”  These words were said as we had blessed ashes placed on our foreheads.  Whether we received ashes or not, we are all called both as individuals and as the people of God, the Church, to do exactly that - “turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.”

Taking the first part of that exhortation seriously we look into our minds and hearts with honesty and humility to see where we are not what we know we should be as followers of Jesus in whatever vocation and calling we have in life.  We all have many different relationships and responsibilities.  While we are fonts of goodness and love, we know at times that we fail.  Selfishness, anger, apathy, vengeance and a host of other negative feelings and faults deprive us of peace and hurt those we love.  They also hurt and take peace away from all who are the victims of our sinfulness.  In today’s gospel we see how Jesus is tempted by the devil after forty days of prayer and fasting in the desert.  Jesus refused to use his gifts and abilities to take care of himself first.  He humbly recognized his love for God the Father and the Father’s will for him.  Jesus also had the vision to see how his misuse of his talents and abilities would send the wrong message to all of us he came to save from sin and separation from God and one another.  One of the greatest opportunities we have to turn away from sin and be strengthened in our resolve is to take the time to examine our consciences and to humbly confess our sins in the sacrament of penance.  When was the last time you went to confession?  We surely do no frequent this sacrament as often as we did in the past.  Instead of going every few months we get into the rut where we go once a year or stay away even longer periods of time.  The sacrament of penance is a sacrament of healing.  While it is an act of humility to admit our sins and to confess them, it is even more an act of faith and trust in God’s mercy and love.  We all know the inner joy and renewal that comes when we apologize and are forgiven.  Trusting in God’s forgiveness in the sacrament of penance not only renews our inner peace, it also strengthens our faith and hope.

While the first part of the exhortation at the distribution of ashes focuses on self, the second part (“and be faithful to the gospel”) opens our minds and hearts to the needs of others.  Our families and friends need our love and concern.  At times we make great sacrifices, but everyday in common, small ways we communicate love, concern and goodness.  Do we take advantage of every opportunity and respond perfectly?  Probably not.  But the more we look beyond ourselves with renewed peace and hope from God’s love and mercy, the more we are sincere and determined in our love and goodness.  In the culture we live in there are so many reports of how we hurt one another as human beings.  If the media would try to focus even for one day on all the good that is done by us, they would not have the time or space to even report the tip of the iceberg.  We are fonts of love.  Lent is our time to see that in ourselves and to make the lives of those we touch rich because of our presence to them.

This year for a parish project, we will turn our attention to the work done by our Parish Outreach Office.  Your continued support with food, time and monetary donations touches the lives of thousands each year.  During lent we will have containers at the doors of the church to take “extra and sacrificial donations” to help those who come to us.  For many people these are very difficult economic times.  How good it is that they know they can come to us for help, knowing we will walk with them in their hardship and ease their burdens with our time, talent and resources, heartened by the fact that we are being “faithful to the gospel.”  The money collected will help to pay utility bills, rents, mortgages, oil deliveries and other everyday expenses that can cause anxiety and worry when there is not money for them.

Lent is a grace-filled season to look at ourselves and those around us.  Jesus saw beyond his needs to the love he was called to give.  He gave with all his heart.  Lent is our time to be renewed by the experience and knowledge of that love.  Together we can become more and more a sign of God’s goodness and love in our world.

Father Walden ; ;