During these first days of Lent, we have had a chance to put into effect our spiritual battle plan. The gospels since Ash Wednesday have reminded us of the need to pray, to do penance, and to love our neighbor, which reveal to us the loving face of our heavenly Father. However, in this short time it is possible to begin to think that this Lent business is not that hard after all. It just requires a little will power, nothing more. What is the big deal?
In fact, the more we are presumptuous and over-confident the more we have set ourselves up for a fall, just like our first parents Adam and Eve. Spiritual conquest is actually not that easy. The best plans of discipline can soon turn out to be pie in the sky. How quickly they come to nothing! We are right back to where we started from if even that much. We can even slip back into old bad habits that leave us empty. What happened? Certainly, we greatly underestimated the enemy. He is not a pushover, but determined and methodical. Satan knows well what buttons to push to seduce each of us. So what should we do when we are confronted with our weaknesses and failings?
The answer: turn to the Lord for strength! We cannot save our own souls. We cannot go it alone. We need Jesus. On the first Sunday of Lent, it is traditional to hear of the great combat between Jesus and Satan. Satan brings out his full arsenal of the world and the flesh. Satan plots to abort the mission of Jesus for us poor sinners. He fails miserably. Jesus in face-to-face combat with the devil and his allies defeats him for our sake. Jesus is victorious so that we may be victorious. In Jesus alone, we can conquer temptation, sin, and the devil. Jesus gives us this certain hope. To forget this truth is always disastrous.
In the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 5: 20-21 (RSV) we read: “. . .where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Clearly, we are dependent on the Lord as our first, last, best, and only hope.
“I love Thee Jesus my love; I repent of having offended Thee; grant that I may love Thee always and then do with me what Thou wilt (St. Alphonsus).”
Yours in Christ crucified, Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor