Lent Week One 2022
Almighty God, Loving Father
you call us back to you with all of our hearts.
I feel your call for me deep in my heart
and I know you want me to be with you
as much as I want to return.
Please, Lord,
give me the wisdom to know how to return.
Make my journey back to you this Lent
one of grace, forgiveness and gentle love.
Psalm 24
Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.
Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
for you are God my saviour.
Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.
Remember your mercy, Lord,
and the love you have shown from of old.
In your love remember me,
because of your goodness, O Lord.
Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.
The Lord is good and upright.
He shows the path to those who stray,
He guides the humble in the right path,
He teaches his way to the poor.
Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.
Gospel
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan.
He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him.
After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God.
‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Fr. Richard Reflection
On the first Sunday of Lent mentions two important things about Lent. One is the fact that Jesus went out into the desert and remained there for forty days this gives us the amount of time we celebrate Lent and another part of this gospel tells us the first message of Jesus ; “Repent, and believe the Good News.” These are the words that are said on Ash Wednesday when we receive the ashes. This Gospel passage helps us to focus on the meaning of Lent
which is to Fast, Pray and Give.
When I was fourteen my mother encouraged me to give up sugar in my tea for Lent it was something which she had done at that age and never took sugar in her tea ever after. Likewise for me I cannot abide sugar in my tea ever since. It wasn’t an easy thing to do at first but I wanted to give up something that I liked to show God how much I loved Him and to do a small penance for my sins. In a way that is why we Fast during Lent it is a sign of our love for God and to acknowledge that we need to change. It’s much easier to Fast by giving up something you like than to change bad habits, but it shows that we are willing to try.
In the same way we try to Pray more during Lent. Sometimes our lives are very busy and we make little or no time for prayer. I think the old habits are the best to say your morning and evening prayers might be a way of giving a bit of space for prayer in our day. Sometimes I like to listen to a tape while I’m driving the car or to pray the Rosary while I’m out walking. It’s good to pray especially to give thanks for all that we have received and to ask for help to change what we need to change in our lives.
In Ireland Giving is also central to Lent. The Trocaire Box is very much at the heart of what we do at this time, it helps us to focus on the needy of the world and to live the Gospel message of “when you did it to the least of these you did it to me”. It is an important way of showing our love for God by the way that we love our neighbour.
These three aspects of Lent- Fasting Praying and Giving- help us to joyfully celebrate the great feast of Easter when Jesus breaks the bonds of sin and rises to new life.
Fr.Richard
Prayer of St Anslem
O my God, teach my heart where and how to seek You,
where and how to find You.
You are my God and You are my all and I have never seen You.
You have made me and remade me,
You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess,
Still I do not know You.
I have not yet done that for which I was made.
Teach me to seek You.
I cannot seek You unless You teach me
or find You unless You show Yourself to me.
Let me seek You in my desire,
let me desire You in my seeking.
Let me find You by loving You,
let me love You when I find You.
Amen.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.