Today is the first Sunday of Lent. On Ash Wednesday we began the season of Lent which is our preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Excluding Sundays it is a season of forty days, in imitation of Jesus spending forty days in the desert. Jesus fasted in the desert, and overcame the devil’s temptations. He never sinned but in the desert he was tempted, and during these forty days of Lent we remember Jesus in the desert as we try to overcome temptation in our lives and to overcome sinfulness.
There is practically no hiding place or shelter in the desert and the difficulties of the desert make whatever is inside a person come to the surface. Lent is an invitation to us to take the courageous step of “going into the desert” and not hiding from what lies hidden deep within us. Lent is a time to put our souls before a mirror and see ourselves as we really are. Lent is an invitation to allow our sin and darkness and wounds come to the surface so that we can deal with them and allow them to be healed by the grace of Jesus.
Lent is a time to say no to the devil’s temptations, who wants us to commit sin, and instead we trust in our heavenly Father like Jesus in the desert.
The Holy Spirit drove Jesus in to the desert to be tempted by the devil. Jesus did this so that He would experience all that we experience except sin. “In Christ, we have been tempted, in Him, we overcome the devil. He could have kept the devil from Himself, but if He was not tempted He could not teach us how to triumph over temptation. (St. Augustine) This way we can turn to Jesus to help us when we are tempted.
Jesus conquered sin by His Passion and death on the Cross. On the Cross it looked as though Our Lord was defeated by the devil. But Jesus freely laid down His life for us and by His resurrection, He conquered death. Through the Cross we have victory. Through the Cross we have salvation.
Through the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary, the Blessed Virgin Mary, helps us to enter into, and come in contact with, the saving power of Our Lord’s Passion, which will help us to repent of our sins. By meditating on the life of Jesus in the Gospel, we receive grace to overcome sin and temptations. We can enter into the desert of Lent, by praying and examining our sins in light of the 5 sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary.
The first sorrowful mystery is the agony in the Garden. Knowing the suffering, He would endure, and seeing the future sins of humanity, Jesus was tempted to do His own will, as He said, “If it be possible, Father, let this cup pass from me”. We can be tempted to do our will, rather than the Father’s will. Such as disobeying our boss, or traffic laws, the teachings of the Church, or our parents, if we are religious, our superior. The temptation to flee our cross of obedience, can be overcome, as we meditate the words of Jesus, “Not my will, by thy will be done.”
The second sorrowful mystery of the Rosary, Jesus is scourged at the Pillar. Our Blessed Lord’s flesh is torn from His sacred body, as He is whipped at the pillar. Perhaps, we may be tempted to dress immodestly, or to view pornography or to look upon others as objects of pleasure. Or tempted to impurity, and lust. When we meditate on the second mystery of the Rosary, we recall the wounded flesh of Jesus, at the Pillar, which will inspire us to flee the temptations of the flesh.
The third sorrowful mystery of the Rosary, Jesus is crowned with Thorns. Our Lord’s Sacred Head is pierced with many thorns. Temptations of thought, such as anger, envy, jealousy, and judging others, can make us feel, like our head is pierced with thorns. By pondering the Sacred Head of Jesus crowned with thorns, we receive strength and graces from Our Lord’s passion, to overcome the temptations of the mind.
The fourth sorrowful mystery of the Rosary, Jesus carries His Cross. Our Lord never sinned, but took upon the burden of our sins, and carried them to Calvary. When He fell, He got back up, carrying His Cross to Calvary. At times, when we carry our Cross, we fall, through temptation, and carry the burden of our sins, on our shoulders. Through the meditation of Jesus carrying His Cross, we will receive strength, to carry our own cross, and to conquer temptation, by going to confession, to be relieved of our burden of sin.
The fifth sorrowful mystery of the Rosary is the Crucifixion. At times we are tempted to despair, and so while praying the rosary, we may feel as Jesus felt, when He said, “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me.” But, His words “Father, into your hands, I commend My Spirit.” we hope and trust in His loving Father, knowing He never abandons us.
When we meditate on the Crucifixion, if tempted to un-forgiveness, or to hold a grudge, we will recall Our Lord’s words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” which will help us to forgive others, as Jesus forgave us!
If tempted to greed, if we gaze upon, the stripping of Our Lord’s clothes, and the rolling of dice by the soldiers, it will cause us to reflect on His poverty, which will inspire us to be charitable to the poor.
When tempted to lie, use foul language, or make fun of others, when we meditate on the Crucifixion, we will recall the words of those who ridiculed Jesus on the Cross, “If you are the King of Jews, save yourself!” which will cause us to watch over our words.
If we are tempted to eat or drink too much, when we meditate on the Crucifixion, and hear Our Lord say, “I thirst!” it will inspire us, to deny our self, excessive food and drink.
When we hear the words of Jesus say, “Woman behold your Son, Son behold your Mother”, we realize Mary was not only with Jesus in His suffering, but because She is our spiritual Mother is with us in our suffering and temptations.
Therefore, by pondering and meditating upon five sorrowful mysteries of the Holy Rosary, it will helps us overcome temptations, have courage to fight them, receive the grace to endure them, develop a deeper sorrow for sins, grow in our faith, and make resolutions, which will help us to overcome our sins and temptations.
May this Lent be a time, in which we draw close to the Virgin Mary, as we pray Her Rosary, trusting She will be with us during our 40 days in the desert, and will help us to overcome our temptations as we ponder the sufferings of Her Son Jesus.