Pastor's Letter

Resisting Temptation
 
As we head into Lent, the first Sunday the Church always has us focus on Jesus’ own temptation in the desert. It’s timely, because during this time right after Ash Wednesday up till now, chances are we’ve begun to crave whatever it is we’ve decided to give up.
 
What Jesus shows us is that we’ll have success when we anchor our desire to have God in our life, which is more important than whatever it is we crave. The devil tried to tempt Jesus to satisfy his personal needs, but Jesus knew he was doing all he was doing for all of us. He was following God’s will. Fasting is a spiritual discipline, because it directs our hunger and thirst to have Christ in our life.
 
Intermittent fasting actually has become trendy these days as a way to lose weight. Fasting in that way can be helpful to the one who’s dieting, but the goal of this kind of fast is different from a spiritual fast. A spiritual fast (which includes giving up something we enjoy, like potato chips in my case) turns us away from focusing on ourselves to fixing our eyes on Christ. 
 
So, when the craving hits, we don’t just think about the benefits of losing weight, which can turn us inward and make us self-focused, we can turn it into a prayer and direct it outward. We can even decide to offer the prayer for someone else who may be hurting or struggling, which also then makes it an act of charity and almsgiving. It becomes an act of goodness, or a work of love. And, if we happen to lose weight in the meantime, something we may be hoping to do, that will end up helping us, too.
 
Usually when we seek the good of others and direct our thoughts to God—when our fast becomes a prayer and we practice self-control—we end up benefiting, too. Jesus shows us that temptation can be overcome when our heart is in the right place.
 
On The Journey Toward Easter
This Sunday at the 10 AM Mass, we’ll affirm, support and acknowledge those among us who are preparing to receive the sacraments of baptism and/or Eucharist and Confirmation during the Easter Vigil. They will be participating in a special rite we do each year called the Rite of Sending & the Rite of Election. In the midst of their family of faith, those to be baptized will write their names in the Book of Elect—an outward sign that God is inviting them into a life with him that isn’t meant to end.  Those already baptized will be affirmed in their readiness to be fully initiated into the Church.
 
Later that evening, we’ll head to Holy Name Cathedral where the Bishop will welcome them, and hundreds of others from parishes throughout the archdiocese, to participate in the sacramental life on Easter. We’ll be sure to take pictures and share them with you next week. Pictures and bios of our catechumens and candidates are featured on the kiosk in the narthex. If you’d like to drop them a word of support or to let them know you’re praying for them, it would mean a lot to them.
 
Together, we’re all headed on a Lenten journey to Easter. It will be filled with ups and downs, trials and joys. We join St. Paul in knowing “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Phi 4:13). But we also know that what makes the journey fulfilling is traveling it together. May God bless the road before us.
 
  --Fr. Mike