Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent

The Liturgy throughout Lent repeats many great “r” words: “renew in me a steadfast spirit” (Ps 51:10), “Repent! I stand at the door and knock.” (Rev. 3:20), “A man will reap only what he sows” Gal. 7:8). For this First Sunday of Lent let us reflect on three: remember, repent, and return.

1.       Remember

On certain Solemnities or Feasts, our community sometimes has a talking meal, instead of eating in silence. The group conversation often drifts to memories of the community.

Remember that time years ago when we lost power? It was dark and cold, and many sisters could not do their daily tasks. We came together and did what we could, building lights from candles in sand and cooking obscure items from the freezer as it slowly defrosted.

Remember that time a certain sister was up to read at Mass for the first time? It was Epiphany Sunday’s First Reading from Isaiah, and she ALMOST said, “caravans of cara-mels” instead of “caravans of camels.” That was so funny!

The same beautiful recalling of memories happens in families, often at gatherings:

Remember the first time we tried to give our cat, Fritz, a bath? That gave a whole new definition to the phrase “scaredy cat.”

Remember that time we went to the beach and a seagull dropped a half-eaten grasshopper on our sibling? She was so scared that she ran and ran and ran around to try to get it off, which, of course, didn’t work.

The Scripture also calls to mind familiar memories, recounted in the Liturgy:

Remember that time Moses was gone for a long time. We gave our gold to Aaron and out of the fire came that golden calf? That was wild, and, boy, did we learn a lesson about idols that day. 

Remember that time we went on that long journey through the desert and were dumb enough to complain about the food? Those snakes sure kept us from complaining about food again.

Moses offers the same memory recall to the Israelites:

“Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deut 8:2-3, emphasis added)

These memories of our community, of our families, and fathers in faith form our character. They tell us who we are. They remind us of the embarrassing moments, the funny moments, the tragic moments, the heroic moments; the memories that make up our lives and the lessons we’ve learned teach us who we are and where we are going. These stories of salvation history teach us who God is and His constant fidelity to His people.

Remembrance is essential; otherwise, what happened to the Israelites in the desert can happen to us. “They forgot the things he had done, the marvellous deeds he had shown them.” (Ps 78:11) How terrible! The Israelites forgot who they were, who God was, and what He had done for them. In the Liturgy this Psalm recounts these wonders so they are never forgotten. Continually, the Church offers us the opportunity to reflect again on the “memory” of salvation history. This forms the bedrock of our Lenten journey, but it doesn’t end with memory. No, it leads to repentance.

2.      Repent

One of the goals of Lent is to empty space to be filled with God. We look back at where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and where we want to go with the Lord. We often give up things in order to replace that open space with God. We fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday to fill ourselves with Christ. Conversion is a turning away, a metanoia. Metanoia is a Greek term meaning a “change of mind” or “conversion”.

We change our minds about putting ourselves first, about loving chocolate, video games, or hot showers more than God. We may choose to spend more time in prayer. We turn away from selfish wants and desires to make space in our hearts for the things that really matter.

Often, our hearts are pricked during this Lenten season in order for us to repent. To become aware of how our past or present sins or current attachments hurt the One we love, Jesus. At the same time, conversion or repentance is not the goal either. God is. We acknowledge that we have fallen, but do not stay stuck in that sorrow. The conversion that Lent seeks to bring about leads us to turn away from sin and return to the Lord.  

3.      Return

The opening reading for Ash Wednesday from the prophet Joel begins, “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God.” (Joel 2:12, emphasis added) Lent is about a conversion of heart in order to return to the Lord, but what are we returning to?

In today’s First Reading, we have the story of the Creation and Fall of Adam and Eve. We remember the wonders God gave them, their moment of sin, selfishness, and embarrassment. The Second Reading from Romans recounts how God offered them and us a way back through Christ. We hear:

“For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17)

Christ leads us to return to the Garden, to friendship with God. Conformity to Christ through obedience brought about by our conversion leads to union with God. This communion is only possible by grace. Lent gifts us with the opportunity to open space in our lives by turning away from death brought about by sin and turning toward the Lord. Like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Lord is waiting by the doorstep for us to return.

In the Gospel today, we recall the Temptation of Christ, where He quotes to the devil the words from Deuteronomy, “One does not live on bread alone.”  Jesus is not speaking of normal bread, but rather the Eucharist; the Bread that leads to eternal life. This communion with God transforms us into Him. Everyday we have the opportunity to return to the Pascal Mystery, where Jesus offers His life in order for us to return to God. In a homily, Saint John Chrysostom says, “One who taste this food is set on fire with an eternal longing for the Lord: his sprit burns as in a fire of the utmost intensity.”

Questions for Reflection

What are my memories of graces the Lord has given me? What are the stories of my own salvation history? When did He lead me through the desert? When did He manifest His love for me?

What are sins or cycles of sin that I need to invite the Lord into? What are areas of weakness or vulnerability that I need to repent of or take to the Lord this Lent?

Where in my life is God calling me to return to Him? How can I be more aware of God’s love this holy season? What would my life be like without this disordered attachment?