The first Sunday of Lent reminds us of our baptismal vows which we will be renewing on Easter. Christ being tempted by Satan is a picture of the Christian who has vowed to reject Satan, his lies and his works. Jesus won his victory in the desert, in fasting and in prayer. Our Lenten exercises invite us to enter the desert, to fast and to pray. Read the articles below and use this reflection guide for plotting your own Lenten journey to Easter.
Relevant Articles
1. The image of Jesus being tempted in the desert brings to our minds one of the themes of Lent: the Christian combat against Satan.
Reflect: During the rite of baptism, we make a three-fold vow against Satan. We reject Satan Himself, his lies and his works. The Christian is one who puts himself under the reign/kingdom of God; he vows to give no space to Satan in whatever area of his life. How aware are you of the three vows of the Christian: to reject Satan, to reject his lies and promises, to reject his works? How do you incorporate these vows into your daily life?
2. The Lord has won for us the victory over Satan by His death on the Cross. It was the victory of one who obeyed the will of Him whom the Devil disobeyed.
Reflect: Lent can be taken as a periodic training session where we hone our hearts to be more docile to the promptings of the Word of God. Through fasting, abstinence, prayer, we put to death the narcissism of sin; through charitable works, we learn to bear with others the evil caused by sin. Through our Lenten observances then, we make our own Christ's victory over Satan. What value do you give to Lenten observances? What do you do to make this season a real opportunity for growth in your life as child of God?
3. The vows that we make against Satan and his kingdom is just one aspect of the Christian struggle against sin. Another aspect, more positive, is our response to the proclamation: "the kingdom of God is near". Since the reign is now close at hand, we can go towards it and allow it to take over our lives. Thus, Jesus prefaces the proclamation of the nearness of God with a command: "Repent!"
Reflect: There is a first conversion: the acceptance of Christ and the Salvation He brings. But thereafter, conversion becomes an on-going process, a constant return to Christ and the reign of God. The Lenten journey towards Easter helps us focus on this ongoing conversion. What do you propose to do this Lent to make your preparation for the Easter renewal of your baptismal vows more fruitful?
