It is quite unimaginable how fast this Lenten season is going – it’s already the Second Sunday of this most needed liturgical season. Before you know it, Holy Thursday and the Easter Triduum will be upon us and we will be entering into the holiest season of the Church year. However, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the importance of the Season of Lent for us, as Catholic Christians.

During the Lenten season, many Catholics and non-Catholics decide to take a break, a fast, from certain “things” that may inhibit their availability for prayer on a regular basis. Many, mostly from the younger generations, have decided to give up things like Facebook, Myspace, iTunes, and other technological aspects of our “connected” world. In fact, during Fridays of the Lenten season, I will be abstaining from the use of Facebook and Twitter; I will be fasting as well. However, there is more to Lent than just giving up “stuff” – it is about a call to conversion, giving up our instances of sin and turning away from temptation.

Throughout the duration of the forty days Christ was in the desert, he was tempted by Satan to give in to the desires of the human world. Satan challenged Jesus: “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” (Matt. 4:3) Jesus, with all his strength and courage, replied to Satan, telling him that “One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4)

This brief passage is an important message for all of us! The Lord tells us the temptation of Satan is going to be tough to overcome. However, if we keep our eyes fixed on the Heavens, everything will turn out okay. Our Heavenly Father will be there to give us the strength and courage of Jesus and will send, to minister to us, His angels.

However, no one is perfect! We all have our challenges in life, whether they are giving into anger, hate, or other vices. We all struggle to ignore the temptation of the devil. Most of the time, we end up giving into that temptation, thus turning our gaze FROM God and ignoring his extended hand. But, there is hope! Even though we fall, the Lord is always there to call us back to Him, which is the reason for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

As the Lenten season continues and the call to conversion reaches the depths of your hearts, pray to the Father for a certain grace. Ask him to send his Holy Spirit to assist you in turning away from the temptations of the devil. Ask him to help you be faithful to His gospel message. At some time during the season, go to confession to truly receive the love of our Father and start again with a “blank slate,” a tabula rasa. In fact, a perfect opportunity for those in the Diocese of Orlando to receive this beautiful sacrament is the weekend of April 3rd and April 4th. During those days, at various parishes throughout the Diocese, priests will be available to hear confession. [For more information, please go here.]

The Lord is waiting for you. Are you going to say no, or are you going to turn your gaze to the Heavens and embrace that loving affection our Father has for you? As you continue to journey throughout these Lenten days, be mindful of the Lord’s presence in your life, giving thanks to Him who loves you.

May God continue to bless all of you throughout this observance of Lent.