Who of you is not without sin?
Temptation and the effect of sin are obvious in our readings and Lent—the challenge of our integrity as Christians. We human beings are the only creatures we know that are capable of compromising our integrity. When we sin, we drive ourselves out into the desert and into turmoil. We might make believe that there is nothing wrong with us. We certainly are expert at rationalizing our actions, but we are torn up within ourselves. However, when we fight off temptation, we are in peace.
I’m certain nearly every priest has had the humbling experience of walking with people from turmoil to peace. The experience takes place in the Sacrament of Penance. But I have heard Catholics say they don’t need to go to Confession, they don’t need to go to a man to receive forgiveness, for they go directly to God. Well, that isn’t being Catholic. The priest is not just an intermediary with God forgiving sins, but a witness to a person becoming whole again within the Christian community. I represent Christ and you in the act of absolution. Healing takes place for all of us when one of us is forgiven. It is humbling for me as a priest since I am also acutely aware of my own sinfulness, the times that I have made bad choices, ego over integrity. At the same time, it is a beautiful experience to walk with a penitent towards peace. As priest, I am privileged to be part of a person releasing the turmoil by trusting in God in order to become whole and bless that person in the name of God.
This Sunday’s Gospel reading demands we look into our hearts and see where we are in turmoil from temptations, and how have we rationalized away our behavior as normal and acceptable. The three temptations Jesus experienced in the desert: of love of pleasure, love of possessions, and love of power; can be a daily occurrence in our lives. When pleasure, possessions or love of power become the goal of our lives, we sacrifice our integrity to the god of materialism, or the god of the ego. More will never be enough for us, the void remains—sin and chaos continue. Are hatred and grudges destroying you? Is your lifestyle wholesome? Are you rationalizing away your life with immorality?
We begin Lent by looking within ourselves about such temptations and compromises in our integrity. If I am honest enough with God and me, then I have to admit that over the last year certain things have crept into my life without my noticing them. Integrity can be compromised by ego. Perhaps, if you are honest with yourselves and God you also will recognize that which has crept into your lives can reduce you to someone who is less spiritual, less human. We need frequent inventories to stay on track.
Our Gospel states that temptation is ongoing: “When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time.” (Lk 4:13) We need to go inside and be honest with ourselves, open to conversion to be the person the Lord has given us the capacity to be. It is then that his peace reigns over our turmoil. The Lord does not want us hurting. And the point of the Lord’s suffering is to take on our sins and pain. For He wants us to be whole, wholesome, and at peace.
“Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble, be with me Lord my God”, is our song response for this journey into Lent. He is with us. He is on our lips and in our hearts if we would just turn to Him in this gift of Lent. Some steps that can lead you to His peace includes the Sacrament of Penance available every Saturday at 9A and 3:45, or by appointment with me; attend our Saturday morning Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and sit in communal silence with the Lord, remain for the weekday Mass on Saturday at 10A; attend our Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service with Taize Tuesday March 17 at 7PM. Perhaps the Stations of the Cross on Friday Evenings and Meager Soup Meal will enhance your spiritual journey this Lent. For if we want to make a good Lent, our focus should not be only on what we give up, what prayers we say, what charity we practice, our focus should be on our integrity, the harmonious union of our values in Christ and the way we live.
Jesus Christ offers us dignity. Jesus Christ offers us mercy and peace. Jesus Christ offers us integrity. Come back to me with all your heart He calls to us each week. What will be our response?
Lenten Graces in the Mercy of Forgiveness be with you, Fr. Gordon