Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
As we begin the season of Lent, the readings highlight our freedom to make choices.
God gives us the freedom, out of love, to make the wrong choices – as did Adam and Eve (First Reading) when they succumbed to the enticing voice of the serpent.
The Psalm is the prayer of one who realises that they have made wrong choices, but then seeks forgiveness, a pure heart and a steadfast spirit, promising in return to praise the Lord joyfully.
For Paul (and in the words of St John Henry Newman), ‘when all was sin and shame, a second Adam to the fight, and to the rescue came’ –in the person of Jesus. Jesus restores our friendship with God and our life with him. (Second Reading)
Jesus himself, even though he was sorely tempted, made the right choices by refusing the devil’s repeated offers; preferring instead to serve and worship God at all times. (Gospel)
Lent is a good time to become more aware of the choices that we make in our own daily lives. We can do this by spending a little more time each day with the Lord, as we accompany him on his journey towards Jerusalem and his Passion, and then to the resurrection at Easter.
