HOMILY FOR 1ST SUNDAY OF LENT / YEAR B

HOMILY FOR 1ST SUNDAY OF LENT / YEAR B

THEME: Journeying with Jesus into the Desert

BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa

As we journey through Lent, it is fitting to explore the underlying principles of the Catholic liturgical seasons. These seasons “express the paschal mystery of Christ” and “initiate people into the Christian way of life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1065). Let’s explore their underlying principles so we can better appreciate the liturgical year.

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By retelling their stories, new generations of Israel are spiritually incorporated into the events of the past and experience the past salvific actions of God firsthand (Exodus 12:1–28). As Saint Thomas Aquinas writes, the stories of Israel’s history are not just historical records but a manifestation of God’s living and active word (De Veritate, q. 2, a. 2).

Through this ritualized remembrance, the community of faith is formed and reformed, and the past becomes present, allowing God’s saving acts to shape their identity and inform their understanding of God’s continued work in their lives (Jeremiah 29:11; Deuteronomy 6:20–25).

The Passover meal, which is a ritual feast that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt, exemplifies this understanding. Celebrants retell the story of the liberation of their ancestors from Egypt and mystically experience the same liberation as their forebears.

In the same way, the Catholic Church understands its liturgy and each liturgical season as a re-reading and re-living of the great events of salvation history in the ‘today’ of her liturgy (CCC 1095). During the liturgical season of Lent, the Church relives and re-experiences the call of Jesus for conversion (CCC 1095), echoing the prophetic call to repentance (Joel 2:12-13) and preparing for the Paschal Mystery (CCC 1095).

The Holy Spirit (epiclesis) brings these past saving acts to life again (CCC 1093-1095, 1106-1108), making them present and effective in our lives so that we may be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2) and conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29). As St. John Chrysostom writes, “Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are the three pillars of Lenten practice. They are the means by which we enter into the mystery of Christ’s Passion and Death.”

Fasting, in its various forms, helps us deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ (Matthew 16:24). This might mean abstaining from certain foods or activities and instead using that time to focus on prayer and reflection.

Prayer deepens our relationship with God, allowing us to conform our will to His (Matthew 6:10). We can enrich our prayer life by incorporating Lenten devotions, such as the Stations of the Cross or additional Scripture readings.

Almsgiving is a tangible expression of the selfless love of Christ (Matthew 25:31–46). We can demonstrate almsgiving by sharing resources, volunteering, or supporting those in need, mirroring Christ’s compassion.

And in our gospel reading today (Mark 1:12–15), Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit, where he spent forty days resisting the temptations of Satan to prepare for his public ministry. This journey is not just about Jesus; we are invited to join him in the desert, to walk with him through the wilderness of Lent, and to better serve the Lord.

As we journey with Jesus into the desert of Lent, let us reflect on our own lives and identify the temptations and distractions that keep us from God. Let us give them up to serve the Lord and our neighbors better (CCC 1438). By doing so, may we grow in holiness and emerge from the desert of Lent with a renewed heart. This is our prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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