Dear Friends,
We were honored this past week to have a powerful presentation by Deacon James Keating to kick-off our Lenten Thursday series. He reminded us to see each person as precious rather than the way our culture tends to look at people – as useful. He also invited us to know the truth that it is people of prayer who truly reach out and help those who are in need, for they are sent to them by God and carry his power in their touch and words.
This Thursday, Fr. Larry Gillick will be with us to share his reflections on “mercy”. Fr. Gillick is well known in the Omaha area and has helped thousands and thousands of people to grow deeper in their relationship with God. I have always been amazed at his profound insights into the human person. Come and enjoy an hour with Fr. Gillick at 7:00 on Thursday.
The gospel for the First Sunday of Lent offers us the experience of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. It reminds us that Jesus was like us in all things, even temptations, but because he is God he is able to resist the tempter. Most temptations in life are a breeze to resist if we were brought up well and taught to discipline our desires. That is why most people live well with each other – side by side throughout life without any major problems happening. We do not murder, we do not rob stores and banks, we do not harm children, we do not commit adultery, we do not vandalize…But those of us who do not do the really bad things are often giving into temptation in some of the smaller, yet still sinful, actions…We may not take good care of our bodies, we may skip our prayers, we may cheat our employers a bit with our use of time, we may ignore our friends and family members to pursue our own self-centered desires…
We all have weakness, we all are broken, and the evil one seems to know only too well our weaknesses. Jesus is temped in the desert to take the easy way – to eat when he is hungry, to have power to bring about peace in the world, and to be protected. They do not appear to be bad things at first glance. What is wrong with eating, having power, and being protected? They take Jesus off his path and let him take an easy way out. That was the temptation in the book The Last Temptation of Christ, to become just like everyone else, to leave behind the work that would get him crucified and simply go, get married to Mary Magdalene and live the life of a carpenter.
How does Jesus respond to the temptations? He turns to scripture; he turns to God to help him. We should do the same when we are tempted. On our own, we most likely will fail. But with God’s help we can resist the temptations that make us less than what we are – children of God. So, when we are tempted to do those little sins, we need to ask God to help us; to send his Holy Spirit to give us the strength and wisdom we need to respond.
Today, the culture celebrates (in unusual ways) the memory of St. Valentine. Many years ago, in the third century, he gave his life to help young couples marry in a society that was not permitting them to marry. So, these many years later he is remembered as the saint of love. Perhaps, today, in memory of the saint, beyond simply giving candy or cards, we could offer our time and energy to share and protect love as he did. That could begin by seeing others as precious.
Peace,
Fr. Damian