First Sunday of Lent

“We solemnly offer Thee, O Lord, the sacrifice of the beginning of Lent, beseeching Thee, that by refraining from carnal feasts, we may learn to avoid sinful pleasures. Through our Lord.” The Secret from the Mass of the first Sunday of Lent.

This is such a good, simple prayer that I think really helps us to understand Lent in its proper place in our lives.

The First Sunday of Lent

We are now a couple of days into Lent on this first Sunday and the first full week is right in front of us.

We get to start this first full week of Lent off with some refreshment for our souls by going to Mass today.

Let’s take some time today to think about how our Lent has started off and what we might be able to do to improve it.

How were these first couple of days for you? Was it what you expected? Have you been surprised by how simple or how difficult it’s turning out to be?

How was the food situation? Did you stay on top of snacks for everyone or is that going to be the biggest challenge this Lent?

The first few days for me were a good start to Lent, I feel. I believe that I’ll be going through this Lent with a variety of challenges. Challenges surrounding some timing for sure.

I’m making more snacks than I normally do, so it’s a bit tricky trying to arrange my day to get that task in.

Last week I made some granola bars and overnight oats to have as our snacks. This week, I’m trying out a combination of the overnight oats and some muffins.

Depending on how that goes, I might repeat it for the following week, or I’ll go ahead and give something else a try.

If you’re having a rocky start to your Lent, don’t let that discourage you! Discouragement is one of the enemy’s favorite tools. He will use you that against you, so make the Sign of the Cross and ask for help.

Ask our Lady or any of your patron saints because they all want to help us.

And don’t forget about asking your guardian angel for help. Our guardian angels solely help each of us individually, so we must make sure to take advantage of their care.

The prayer to our guardian angels is one of my favorite prayers ever! I pray it several times throughout the day.

“Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me hear. Ever this day/night be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen”

Temptations

Remember, the devil tempted our Lord when He fasted for 40 days before beginning His public life.

The Gospel from today tells us all about it. It’s from the Gospel of St. Matthew chapter 6, verses 1-11.

“At that time Jesus was led into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry.

“And the tempter coming said to Him: If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said: Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.

“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him: If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down. For it is written: That He hath given His angels charge over Thee, and in their hands shall they bear Thee up, let perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord Thy God.

“Again the devil took Him up to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said to Him: All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan! For it is written: The Lord thy God shalt Thou adore, and Him only shalt Thou serve. Then the devil left Him: And behold angels came, and ministered to Him.”

St. Matthew recorded this great reminder for us. It’s such a perfect example of what we’re to do.

What we’re to do when we feel that we are being tempted to fall into sin. Since Lent is focusing on making reparations for sins as well as for disciplining our human nature, seeing how our Lord handled Satan is what we need this season.

I really love how Holy Mother Church can smack us in the face with her perfectly placed Mass readings. I for sure am always surprised at how much this particular Gospel can fill me with so much inspiration.

Jesus really did show us exactly how to handle every situation we face in our lives.

Fight Back

Whenever those temptations of discouragement come, let’s try to imitate our Lord and say “Begone Satan!”

God has given us so many different tools to use in order to obtain the salvation of our souls. Remember to use all these tools so that we may have a holy and blessed Lent.

“We solemnly offer Thee, O Lord, the sacrifice of the beginning of Lent, beseeching Thee, that by refraining from carnal feasts, we may learn to avoid sinful pleasures. Through our Lord.”

God bless!