First Sunday of Lent - Reflection

Lent can be a challenging time. Too often too many of us have hoped against hope that major changes in our lives will take only 40 days. We imagine that we can be a thinner, healthier, and holier version of ourselves if this time, we actually lock it down and just do the hard work of Lent. We take on severe penances and commit to almsgiving, we fast and we mean it, and somehow - we are still not good enough. My works, my fasting, my almsgiving, my penance - is not enough.

We can forget to trust in the slow work of God. We see in our readings today, the beginning of our fall as human beings. We can view the quick nearly thoughtless giving in to the temptation of the evil one. Paul reminds us that sin came through one man, and as such, came to all the world. From the time of Adam to Moses death reigned. The Lord, in his slow loving work, gave us the law, the prophets came and reminded us again and again how we could come back to the Lord. And in the slow work of Our Holy Lord, he sent us the gracious gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. This grace overflows and transforms - if we allow it to. But we must remember, God works in His time, not ours.

The challenge of Lent is me. I, "I" imagine that I will do the hard work. I imagine that my penance will change me. I imagine that the hope I have is my own. Yet, all of this, all of Lent, is a gift. When we are tempted, even to think of our own power, let us remember Our Lord, who was tempted in the desert. Our Lord who and through whom we can be made righteous.