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.

Today you have the chance to draw your hearers into the liturgy through scripture. When the Israelites recall the history of their salvation and when Saint Paul exhorts us to “confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord,” we are being called to our creed, our confession of 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.

Some cousins from Ireland came for a visit recently and all the clan gathered for a feast. Before the first bite was taken, we stopped to pray: O God, we remember our grandparents and great-grandparents who, at such a tender age and in such dread circumstance, left their beloved families behind and braved a terrible voyage to an unknown land.

No more bargains. I’m giving up bargaining for Lent. Not the shopping-discounts or market-bazaar kind of bargaining–I’m no good at that anyway. Show me an overpriced item, and I guarantee it’s already in my shopping cart or on my shelf at home.

Some old-timers look back fondly at all that used to be a part of Lenten fasting and abstinence. Some felt it provided them with benefits beyond the spiritual renewal intended. They speak about a sense of camaraderie during Lent.

We are a people on a journey, being led by God out of deserts and wastelands toward abundant life. Let us acknowledge our needs and place them before our God who hears our cry.

Brothers and sisters: What does scripture say? The readings this week make connections to both one another and to the liturgy. Saint Paul draws on Moses’ last words to the people when he says, ”The Word is near you, and in your mouth and in your heart.”

Nothing restrains anger, curbs pride, heals the wound of malice, bridles self-indulgence, quenches the passions, checks avarice, and puts unclean thoughts to flight as does the name of Jesus. —Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)