The First Sunday of Lent always brings us into the desert with Jesus. Before He begins His public ministry, He enters a place of silence, hunger, and testing. The desert is not a punishment—it is a place of preparation. There, Jesus confronts the temptations that touch every human heart: the desire for comfort, the thirst for power, and the longing for recognition.

In each temptation, the devil tries to pull Jesus away from trust in the Father. Yet Jesus responds not with force, but with fidelity. He shows us that temptation itself is not sin, rather, it is an invitation to choose God again and again. Lent places us in our own “desert,” not to discourage us, but to strengthen us. It is a season to face honestly the patterns, habits, and desires that keep us from loving God wholeheartedly.

The desert also teaches us simplicity. When we fast, pray, and give alms, we strip away what is unnecessary so we can hear God more clearly. Jesus’ victory over temptation reminds us that grace is stronger than weakness, and that God never abandons us in our struggles.

As we begin this holy season, we are invited to walk with Christ—to let Him lead us, challenge us, and renew us. Lent is not about proving our strength, it is about discovering God’s. If we allow Him to meet us in our deserts, He will lead us to Easter joy.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, as You faced temptation in the desert, strengthen me in my own moments of weakness. Help me to choose You above all else and to walk faithfully through this Lenten season. Purify my heart, deepen my trust, and draw me closer to Your love. Amen.

I wish you all a very Holy and Blessed Season of Lent. May God always bless us and keep us in His care to fulfill the resolutions which we make in this season and celebrate the Great Easter with the Risen Christ.

Love and prayers,

Fr. Charley