SUNDAY REFLECTIONS | First Sunday of Lent

By Social Communications

Published on March 9, 2025

Luke 4:1–13 — “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.”

The First Sunday of Lent invites us to walk with Jesus into the desert, where He was led by the Holy Spirit and tempted by the devil for forty days. This Gospel passage sets the tone for our own Lenten journey—a time of prayer, fasting, and spiritual struggle.

Jesus’ experience in the wilderness reveals the reality of temptation and the power of God’s Word to overcome it. The devil tempts Him to satisfy His hunger by turning stones into bread, to gain worldly power through worshiping Satan, and to test God’s protection by risking His safety.

Each temptation appeals to a natural human desire: the need for food, the desire for power, and the longing for security. Yet, Jesus refuses to give in, responding each time with Scripture that points to trusting God’s will above all else.

This teaches us that temptation itself is not sin, but a test of our fidelity to God. Like Jesus, we face temptations that try to pull us away from God’s plan. Lent is a time to recognize these temptations and prepare to resist them through prayer, fasting, and reliance on God’s grace.

The desert is a place of both challenge and encounter. It is often lonely and difficult, yet it is where God reveals Himself most deeply. Jesus’ time in the desert prepares Him for His public ministry, just as our own Lenten “deserts” prepare us to live more faithfully.

Fasting helps us discipline our desires and grow in self-control. It clears space in our hearts for God to speak. Prayer connects us to God’s strength and wisdom. And almsgiving opens our hearts to love others in tangible ways.

This Gospel also reminds us that the Holy Spirit leads and sustains us in our struggles. Jesus was “led by the Spirit,” and so too are we invited to allow the Spirit to guide us during Lent.

As we journey through these forty days, may we draw closer to God, resist temptation, and grow in faith. Let us learn from Jesus’ example that true strength comes not from power or riches but from trusting in God’s word and will.

May this Lent be a time of transformation, where we deepen our relationship with Christ and prepare to celebrate His resurrection with renewed hearts.