First Sunday of Lent 26 February 2012 “To make progress in the knowledge of Christ » This is very much the program of Lent, and for that to happen it.

First Sunday of Lent

26 February 2012

“To make progress in the knowledge of Christ »This is very much the program of Lent,

and for that to happen it is necessary to conform toa certain conversion of heart and at the outset to askGod for grace. The opening prayer invites us to this.And the Gospel situates this conversion in a profound

and personal relationship with the Father, “who sees in secret.”

The second reading reveals all the meaning of our baptism,to live fully. It gives us the force to affront temptation as

Jesus did in the desert. Baptized, we are calledto walk behind Jesus on the road of Easter.

In calling us to conversion, it is this that Jesus reveals.

My dearly beloved, now has come the time of Lent;

in observing it faithfully we repair our past cowardice,

we erase our negligence…At this hour which implies a service of the Lord which is

a more attentive, behold we are engaged in a battle:

prepare ourselves to care for our salvation.

Listening to our Fathers

Because it is necessary to realize

that the more we applyourselves to care for our

salvation, the more violent

the attacks of the enemy will be.

But He who is within usis stronger than our enemy; having faith in His power,

and He will be strong.See how He has permitted

Satan to tempt him because He was wishing

not only to strengthen us with his help, but also to instruct us by his example.

Saint Leo the Great (5th century) Sermon 39

God wishes to make a covenantwith humanity.

The covenant with Noah included the cosmos.That which He make with Abraham will havedimensions, more and more universal until Christ comes.

Then, it will concern all people and his Easter will be the sign of it.

But there will be many trialsto endure. Today, we see Him

“pushed by the Spirit intothe desert:” forty days in the

presence of God, but alsowith Satan who tempts Him…

The desert…It is the image of our life on earth. As before with the

Hebrew in the desert, we encounter obstacles, we resentprivation, we offer some resistance to God… But thanks to

the presence of Jesus who is there to sustain us and guide us.

The desert is a call to rid ourselves of possessions, to return to the essentials, far from all that is superfluous to which we can become slaves – our possessions

come to possess us.

Give us the grace to follow you Lord, to make us liberated

from all that hinders that following. The desert is the place

where, far from all, the heart is more free, more available

to listen to God, to welcome His love and to respond to it:

“I will lead my people to the desert and, there I will speak

to her heart.” (Hosea 2:16)

During this time of grace of Lent,change our heart, Lord Jesus !Fill it with your love for the Fatherand for all men, our brothers.

Your ways, Lord,are love and truthfor those who keep your covenant. (Psalm 24)

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