Use The Graces of God Wisely

Use God’s Graces Wisely, Resist the Temptations Around You
A Reflection for First Sunday of Lent 2007 based on Readings:2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 4:1-11
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry


It is appropriate that the readings for the first Sunday of lent focus on our using the graces God gives us suitably and not giving into the temptation that we are surrounded with every day. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he tells the people of Corinth “As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For the Lord says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you”. I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, and now is the day of salvation.”He goes on to tell them “We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.”To me this tells us that the role of the church is not to make our lives difficult by creating rules that prevent us from praising and worshiping Almighty God. We priests are Christ’s servants here on earth and should do everything possible to create an environment that is comfortable for all who wish to acknowledge how God has blessed them with His infinite graces.
Paul goes on to tell us how he has endured many hardships and not ever faltered in His devotion to, love and trust in God. “In great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; … and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” That statement should lift us up especially when we are facing difficult times like the illness of a loved one, the death of a partner or dear friend, the loss of possessions or a job or the open discrimination of those who claim to love God but whose actions are contrary to the teachings of Christ. We affirm that we truly believe that with God all things are possible by not turning away and giving up on Gods’ providing us with the tools to overcome our adversities.
The Gospel reading, Matthew 4, is the account of how Christ was tempted in the desert by Satan. I believe that God allowed this to happen just so we would know that even the son of God could be the focus of the devils designs to take control of as many of God’s children. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”The lesson for us is to know and understand that if Satan was brazen enough to attempt to have the son of God come over to the dark side how much more aggressive will he be to try and have us forsake God? We have to realize that the evil one will use every tool available to him to try to have us desert God. The story of Job is another lesson of this found in scripture.
We need to be consistent in our devotion and trust in Almighty God and not allow ourselves to be fooled into giving in to the temptations that plague us.
Lent is a time of reflection and renewal for us. It is a time for us to fast as Christ did and to devote additional time to prayer. When we pray we need to acknowledge our failures and ask God to give us the graces necessary to fight off the designs of the evil one.
Our time on this earthly world is short and we need to use the time to make ourselves ready for the Eternal world with Almighty God that is open to us because of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we call to mind during this Lenten season.
Let us go forth, purify ourselves of our old ways, and cleanse ourselves of the stains of our sins so that we are a spotless offering to Almighty God. Let us not waste the graces God provides us with. Let us use His graces to the fullest in order that we come closer to God with the passing of every new day and when the time comes for God to call us home we will hear him say to us “ Well done my good and faithful servant, the kingdom of heaven is your abode for all eternity” AMEN