Jesus spent 40 days in the desert; we join him there each Lent. Saint Mark’s acco= unt of this period is much shorter than the ones in Matthew and Luke. But it still offers us guidance as= we begin this season of discipline, penance and self-denial.

Mark says the Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert. It wasn’t Jesus’ idea.= He felt a force compel him to leav= e the world behind. When we begin L= ent each year, it isn’t our idea. The Church’s calendar just hands it to us. Some inner force compels us to do penance because we believe that God is at work especially during this seaso= n.

Mark says Jesus remained in the desert 40 days. Once the Spirit got him there, Jes= us stayed for a long time. He se= ts an example for us. The next 40 d= ays should feel like a desert. No= w that God has brought us to this special time, we accept it, and we find ways to survive in the desert. Most p= eople do without something during Lent, just as Jesus did without his regular hom= e, friends, food and water for 40 days. I asked one priest friend, “What are you giving up for Lent th= is year?” He said, “= My microwave. Well,” he explained, “it broke. So I’m trying to spend a few weeks preparing more nutritious food.” If you do withou= t some things especially for a period like 40 days, you will learn more about your compulsions and your needs, as well as your dependence upon God for all that= you have. The less we have, t= he less distracted we are, the more we learn about ourselves, and the more we encounter God.

But we will encounter something else. Mark says that Jesus was tempted by Satan. He is the adversary, t= he prince of demons. He opposes = the word of God, and he leads disciples astray from the path. If you try to spend 40 days giving= up some comforts, I will guarantee you, you will encounter the temptations of Satan. You will be tested. Yo= u will indulge in other ways to pamper yourself because you are giving up so much;= you will be harder to get along with. If you are miserable during your Lent, you’re going to make ev= erybody else miserable during theirs. It is the work of Satan.

The best way to combat these temptations is through praye= r and charity. When we are charitab= le toward others, our temptations lose their strength. And when we pray, really pray abou= t the temptations we face, we will draw closer to God and find the strength we ne= ed to overcome our sin.

Plan now to make a good confession sometime during the se= ason of Lent. Confessions will be available [before and after mass on Saturdays= ] [after mass] from now till Easter; we will= have our parish communal penance service on Monday night of Holy Week, April 6.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> If those times do not work, you ca= n call any priest around the area; we will be happy to hear your confession at a t= ime that is convenient for you. A= dmitting our sin is the first step in the fight against evil.

Lent is a time of temptation, but it is also a time of gr= ace if we imitate Jesus and fight off the things that keep us from God.