First sunday of Lent

Today we enter into new liturgical season called Lent. These forty days of Lent invites us
to explore ourselves in the presence of God and others; it helps us to say, "yes" to the
love of God once again. Lent is not only about fasting, it is also about feasting and
celebrating our oneness with God our Father.

Today's gospel deals with three different temptations such as to go against God, against
others and against oneself.

1. The first temptation: Going against the love and kindness of God our Father;

once a king called all his wise men and asked, "what should I do to a person who kicked me
and slapped and spat on my face". The people who heard it were so furious and one person
said, "you should immediately execute the person". Then the other said, "you should behead
him in public". Everyone came up with different solutions. Then one person said, 'you
should kiss the feet that kicked you, you should kiss the hand that slapped you and adore
him". The king was surprised and asked him why. The man said, "my lord, no one has the
authority or power to do anything against you except your little son who loves you so
much".
yes, that is the relationship, Jesus wants us to have with God; Father and child
relationship. Even we go away from God, our relationship should stay the same. But when we
focus more on our physical needs as the tempter asks Jesus, then we begin to make stones
into bread, we forget to live on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
prayer helps us to get closer to God our Father.

2. The second temptation: Going against our neighbours and others;

Once there was a beautiful island where all the feelings lived such as happiness, joy,
sadness, love and so on. And one day, they were announced that the island was going to sink
and all the feelings got out of the island except love. Love waited until the last moment
and when the island had almost sunk, love decided to get out. Richness was passing by love
with big boat but refused to take with him. then the happiness said, "i am too happy to
take you with me and sadness said, 'i am too sad to take you with me". then at last time
came by and helped love to reach the dry land. Then love said to all, "only time is capable
of understanding how valuable love is". when we take time to be with others, we come to
know the meaning of love and life.
when Jesus was given authority to control over everything, he said," i am here to love and
serve God. when we spend time to love and serve humanity, we love and serve God. Fasting or
giving up the things that hinder us from loving humanity, we begin to serve God.

3. The third temptation: Going against oneself;

Once a man who was an alcoholic was criticized by all. His wife threatened him of leaving him
and his children never respected him. He was so depressed and helpless and nothing helped
him to stop drinking. Then one day, he met with his best friend who looked at him and said,
"Friend, I understand you. I love to accept as you are. when he heard that there is someone
who could accept him as he were, he experienced a big change in him and he, right there,
stopped drinking. He became a new man.
When people go against us, we too go against ourselves struggling to accept our limitation and conditions and try to blame God for everything. when we accept ourselves, there we will change for better.

During the season of Lent, let us explore ourselves in the presence of God and others. Amen.