First Sunday of Lent
February 18, 2024

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021824.cfm

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The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.

Mark 1:12-13

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Isn’t it shocking that even our Godly Jesus experienced temptation?

There is a devotional tradition that considers temptation an act of God to test us. You have probably heard the tired old adage, “God will never test us beyond our endurance.”

I think that this is a limited and skewed image of God! God is not our Tester, our Tormentor, or our Tease. God is our Creator and Lover.

It is LIFE that tests us, and God abides with us in every aspect of that testing, just as the Father did with Jesus in the desert.

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:

Let us go with Jesus to the desert in our prayer today, asking his enlightenment over any dark corners of our faith, hope, and love. Life can tempt us to choose less than God desires for us. Let us ask for the strength to always choose God Who is Love.

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Poetry: THE TESTING (A TRIPTYCH) – Irene Zimmerman, OSF
This is part 2 of a three-part poem by Irene Zimmerman. I highly recommend her beautiful spiritual poetry which illuminates the sacred scriptures.

Higher and yet higher he was led
till all the kingdoms of the world lay spread
before his eyes, more splendid still
than he had ever dreamed.
“Worship me and these are yours,”
the Tempter said.
Mountains boomed and echoed
a thundering “No!” The Son of Man would choose instead to go
where he was sent, to have no place
to lay his head, to be content
to spread himself cross-beamed
above a common hill.

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Music: Jesus Tempted in the Desert – text by Herman G. Stuempfle (1923 – 2007); tune by Thomas J. Williams (1890)