First Sunday of Lent Temptation Sunday - Brothers and sisters, like we said last ash Wednesday we have begun a long journey of forty days, in which we will accompany Jesus in the desert and just like Jesus, it will be for us a journey of preparation for Easter and for the most important event in history, the Resurrection of our Lord and with it the salvation for humanity.

Today we make our first stop on this trip, on this first Sunday of Lent, known as temptation Sunday, the moment where Jesus is tempted by Satan in the desert , the same demon who tempted our first fathers Adam and Eve, they fell…the Lord triumphed. And today Jesus teaches us how our preparation needs to be, where and what should be the intention of it.

A funny story says that one day a baby camel was talking with his mother and he asks: Mom why have we got these huge three-toed feet?” The mother replies, “To enable us trek across the soft sand of the desert without sinking.” “And why have we got these long, heavy eyelashes?” “To keep the sand out of our eyes on the trips through the desert” replies the mother camel. “And Mom, why have we got these big humps on our backs?” The mother, now a little impatient with the boy replies, “They are there to help us store fat for our long treks across the desert, so we can go without water for long periods.” “OK, I get it!” says the baby camel, “We have huge feet to stop us sinking, long eyelashes to keep the sand from our eyes and humps to store water. Then, Mom, why the heck are we here in the Toronto zoo?” Modern life sometimes makes one feel like a camel in a zoo. And like camels in a zoo sometimes we need to go into the desert in order to discover who we truly are. Lent invites us to enter into this kind of desert experience.

1. The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts,
   and the angels ministered to him.

·       What is the desert?

·       Every time that man has wanted to communicate with God he has gone to the desert, examples: Israel, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and ourselves.

·       It is more than a physical place, it is an interior disposition.

• It is to be alone with God. How much time do we spend alone with God?

• We cannot choose a place but we can choose a time in the desert.

• To get back on track, with our desires, with ourselves, our family, with God.

• Lent is that opportunity to make the desert.

• Today more than ever we must dis-intoxicate ourselves from the noise, stress, etc.

• Every person who has a soul to take care of needs it.

• Today the entire world wants to avoid it, distract themselves it is a way of escaping from my responsibilities.

• How should we make the desert within us, with fasting, prayer, penance, with Confession, with alms giving.

2. What should we prepare for?

Like Christ: For our Salvation.

• Christ prepared himself for His Easter, His Passion, death and Resurrection.

• He knew that the most important day of his life was at hand, the most valuable, where He put His life and the life of all humanity in jeopardy

• He had many things to do but He did not let Himself be overcome by activism.

• He made time to prepare His soul: 40 days.

• What a great example.

For the fight, Temptation

·       The other intention of lent is to prepare ourselves to fight against de Devil, against temptation.

·       Christ was tested like every man.

·       He even shared temptation with us.

·       To teach us that we can overcome, with the help of the Grace, with Prayer, and Penance.

But this is what is marvelous, that it is at that moment, like during this Lent, the best moment to come back to God, he is waiting for us with his arms open wide, like a Father, a brother, a friend. He is willing to forgive it all, if one asks for it with a sincere, contrite, and humble heart. It’s only a matter of getting close to God and letting you be loved by God, particularly in the sacraments, in confession and the Eucharist.

Brothers and sisters, the big news that the Lord gives us today is this one, that if he overcame like man, we too can overcome. The answer is in his words Stay awake and Pray, so that you don’t fall into temptation. Remain awake; be attentive, by the examination of conscience, spiritual direction, retreats, and especially trough the Confession. Pray, intensely during this Lent, meditating on the life of Jesus, especially his Passion and Death, come to the Stations of the Cross, on Fridays, visit him during holy hour, pray the rosary together, as a family, etc.

Finally, brothers and sisters always trust the Lord, don’t be afraid. If we are FAITHFUL, the grace will always be greater than the temptation. Christ overcame, I too can overcome with Him, the key is in not separating ourselves from Jesus and from our Mother, She is our best weapon against temptation and the devil. In times of danger lets us invoke her presence, She will always help us. Amen.