Lent provides us all with the opportunity to travel with Jesus in prayer, fasting, and
almsgiving. Today, Matthew (4:1-11) presents us with a profound moment in Jesus’ life: His forty days of fasting in the desert and His confrontation with temptation by Satan. Jesus encounters every temptation by Satan with the Word of God: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the month God.” His unwavering faith and obedience to God is meant to serve as a model for our lives, and Lent provides a good opportunity to begin that journey.

By way of applicability—how to put what we believe into practice—we first must recognize
that temptation is not sin. Rather, it is an opportunity to grow stronger in faith through reliance on God’s Word and Grace. When we feel hungry—physically or emotionally or spiritually—we can always turn to Scripture and prayer for nourishment as Jesus did. Lent is indeed a time to deepen our relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, to resist the allure of easy fixes and worldly power, and to Trust in God’s providence. This way, we can, like Christ, emerge from our own deserts renewed and ready to live out His plan. Using many different forms of prayer in the Catholic Church (Blessing and Adoration; Petition; Intercessory; Thanksgiving; and, Praise) as well as meditative, centering, and more—the Catholic faith provides many ways to connect with God and deepen our personal relationships with Him. And, that is His desire.