Transcript
As we enter the season of Lent, the Church gives us the Gospel of Jesus in the desert. Matthew tells us that Jesus is led by the Spirit into this barren place, not to escape the world, but to confront the temptations that seek to distort His mission. The devil invites Him to turn stones into bread, to test God’s protection, and to grasp earthly power. Yet Jesus responds with calm fidelity, grounding himself entirely in the Father’s Word. His victory reveals that true strength is found not in satisfying immediate desires, but in trusting God above all else. Lent offers us a similar invitation. Our own deserts may not be physical, but they are the inner spaces where we wrestle with our weaknesses and misplaced attachments. Through prayer, fasting, and almost giving the Church calls us to clear away distractions so that God’s voice can be heard more clearly. We imitate Christ not by seeking hardship for its own sake, but by letting the spirit lead us toward deeper freedom. As Jesus leaves the desert ready for His mission, so may this Lenten journey prepare our hearts for renewal. In walking with Christ, our struggles become moments of grace and our conversion becomes a path to Easter joy. Amen.