The First Sunday of Lent provides the perfect way to deepen our understanding of this sacred season. We find this in the first sentence of the Gospel: “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” There are three parts to this statement. The first, is that Jesus is led by the Spirit. The second, is that Jesus was led into the wilderness. The third, is that Jesus was tempted by the devil. This statement shows us that Lent is about following the example of Jesus. We need to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that we can discover ways to deepen our relationship with the Lord.
The Collect of the Mass expresses this in the following way: “Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observance of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects.” In the scriptures, ‘wilderness’ was a term that was used to designate a place that was uninhabited and desolate. There was little comfort and few distractions. When we enter the ‘wilderness’ of Lent, we seek to remove the distractions by simplifying things, denying ourselves, and praying as ‘active contemplatives’.
Finally, we know that just as Jesus was tempted, so too will we be tempted during Lent. Satan is called the ‘father of lies’ and we see this clearly in the First Reading and Gospel. Jesus was able to overcome the lies with the truth of Sacred Scripture which he presented to satan. As we meditate on God’s word throughout Lent, we too will be strengthened. Let us follow the example of Jesus.