Fr Antonio Pineda
n this first Sunday of Lent, we might wonder what we can do for God. Should we pray more, fast more, and give more to people in need? Yes, we should do these things, but Lent is not just about what we do for God. In fact, Lent is much more about what God wants to do for us. It’s all about God’s grace at work within us. And one way that God can work in us is through his word in Scripture.
You might think that the Bible might be too hard for us to read or understand. But, in fact, in the second reading, St Paul reminds us that “the word is very near to you, it is on your lips and in your heart” (Romans 10:8). God is eager to bless us this Lent as we read his word.
The Scripture strengthens us against temptation. We see this in this Sunday’s Gospel. After fasting for forty days, Jesus must have been extremely hungry and tired. So when the evil one tried to entice him to turn away from his Father’s plan, Jesus leaned on the word of God. He responded to each temptation with a truth from the Hebrew Scriptures. He drew strength and clarity from the word of God, trusted in it, and let it guide him.
We all feel weak at times, and our sinfulness can easily lead us astray. Add to that the burdens of life and the enticements that swirl around us, and it’s no wonder we struggle at times. If Jesus relied on God’s word, we need even more the grace that flows from the Scriptures.
Lent is the perfect time to seek the Lord in Scripture each day. There, we will find the strength to overcome temptation, the grace to hear God’s voice, and the wisdom to guide our lives. And as we read, we can hear his voice telling us, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8).