February 20-21, 2010
First Sunday of Lent
Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13
For good or for bad, hunger can indeed heighten the senses. A Mickey D’s cheeseburger looms in our imagination when driving on a depleted stomach (especially on Lenten Fridays….), we might be willing to trade a whining child for a ready-to-hand bathroom, darkened windows lining the midnight highways encourage the eyelids to dangerously droop…if only for a few seconds. With the season of Lent but a few days old, we are reminded that, unlike Advent with all its pretty decorations and festive parties, THIS season is one of withdrawal and introspection. Like the proverbial addict who insists they can stop smoking, drinking, inhaling, using, lusting, any time they want; Lent is a challenge to see just how REAL that possibility truly is? The depth of a person’s character and truest values can frequently be discerned within the simplest actions. The man who holds….or doesn’t hold the door for a woman.
The person who always arrives ahead of schedule (on time) or is persistently late (and always filled with excuses.) The person who shares what little they have as opposed to the person who never picks up the check or chips in to help. The ones who can make fun of themselves as opposed to those whose seriousness is secretly mocked behind their backs.
With the tempting of Jesus in the desert we have small, reasonable possibilities put before a ‘hungry’ Jesus: use your power and eat, you can have more than you imagine if you just divert your eyes/focus, why not cut your losses and run, take the easy/painless path? These Lenten weeks are opportunities for us to consider the choices and selections we have made and the destinations to which these choices are leading. Are we developing and building an ever-growing relationship with Jesus or are we saying ‘to heck with it’ and feeding every hunger as soon as the pangs disrupt our comfort?
Discernments regarding the direction of our life are not usually made through casual observation or blithe critique. LENT is a chance to get serious…and the six LONG weeks provide a perfect opportunity to discern our hungers…and how we are feeding them.
Thank you for joining with our Corpus Christi family as we plunge into the Lenten season. The Bulletin has news of upcoming events and opportunities, please accept one on your way home. A reminder to those who are in need of either Fingerprinting or Safe Environment Training….March 1st is the deadline….please make sure you attend to things if you are missing one or the other. The invitations to this year’s Prayer Breakfast; ‘This day you shall be with me in paradise…’ have been sent. Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., the founder of Homeboy/Homegirl Industries promises to be a poignant and timely speaker…make sure to make your reservations early (and spread the news by inviting your friends and co-workers!) With one more month of winter to be endured, may you be warmed by remembering you are loved. FKB
