Ash Wednesday. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years because they doubted God's love for them. Jesus is baptized and then wanders in the desert for 40 days while the Devil tries to make him doubt his Father: IF you are the Son of God... God won't provide for you. God won't protect you. God won't be enough for you. Jesus rejects Satan's lies and stands firm in the truth that He is the Beloved Son.
God is your Father and He will provide for you, He will protect you, and He is enough for you. Lent is an opportunity for us to accept God's truth and reject the Devil's lies. Lent is for growing in Love. We grow in love first by spending quality time with the God who loves us, talking and listening to Him say "I love you." Once we have received God's love, we share it: Almsgiving. Then we give up whatever we cling to because we doubt our Father. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.
(18 Feb 2015)
Point to Ponder: What do I allow to distract me from my mission of True Love?
Pond to Discuss: When did you feel God's love in a particularly powerful way?