First Sunday of Lent

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
Lent is a great season of grace, a time for us to get back to spiritual basics, a time for us to accompany Jesus into the desert, to face temptation with him, and learn how to respond to it.

Jesus felt temptation.  On the desert floor, the devil tempts Jesus (hungry after 40 days fasting) to turn stones into bread, to make the satisfaction of sensual desire the highest good of life.  Many fall into the sensual temptation for food, drink, drugs, sex, etc., or the money to purchase them.  During Lent we take a good long hard look at this tendency.  If sensual pleasure is my greatest desire then I am in sad spiritual shape.  Like kids who want everything.  If we always give in, we never open ourselves to higher goods, like friendship, knowledge, and searching for God. 

Jesus response: man does not live by bread alone.  We need bread, but that isn’t all there is. 

The challenge and opportunity for us this Lent is to move higher, and to not get stuck on the desert floor.

May God bless each of you and those that you love, and know of my prayers for a blessed and grace-filled season of Lent.

Fr. Greg