As Lent begins, we continue in this Jubilee year of hope to celebrate, pray, bless, learn, inspire, and challenge.

How is the season of Lent different from other seasons? This is the season in which we tend to the spiritual tasks of penance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in order to deepen our experience of God’s presence and strengthen our faith.

Mark recorded the story of Jesus in the desert first. He tells us Jesus spent 40 days there and was tempted by the devil. Matthew and Luke add that Jesus actually fasted all that time, at which point he was mighty hungry.

Three of us seasoned moms were reminiscing about when we were young parents. My friend Kathy recounted how anxious she was about making the right choices.

Some cousins from Ireland came for a visit and all the clan gathered for a feast. Before the first bite was taken, we stopped to pray:

As the Lenten season of repentance begins, let us call to mind our sins and so prepare ourselves to receive the sacred mysteries.

During this sacred season, let us look upon ourselves as on the Mount with Jesus—learning his love and his fear—unlearning ourselves, and growing up unto him.

Browse our library for additional First Sunday of Lent, Cycle C material.