The temptation to be powerful, spectacular and rich.

 As we enter into the desert of Lent we are called to examine what feeds and nourishes us. There is always a temptation to be satisfied by illusions that can seem to fill us but do not satisfy us. When faced with circumstances that seem to be out of control we can pray for miracles or for someone who can provide the external help we need to fix an immediate problem. In the midst of the tragedies unfolding in Ukraine and the floods affecting the East Coast of Australia, we can feel overwhelmed and powerless wondering how to respond. Many have sought to provide practical help, financial resources, and emergency aid. There is a natural outpouring of compassion that can be present for those distressing images that confront us. We also wonder what we would do if we were placed in similar circumstances.

I believe this is where how we enter into Lent is important. We need to be people who are prayerfully aware of how we are present to God and to each other. This recognizes how we surrender our whole lives over to God so that we can be fully present to how we can be open to the opportunities each day. This surrender is not about giving up and throwing up our hands in despair. Rather it allows us to become aware of what is within our providence to influence and change. Here the abilities given to us demonstrate how we come closer to God through the gifts entrusted to us for the good of the whole. This allows us to discover who we are called to be and to discover that we can change things for the good of all.

This also looks at how we are emersed in the environment where we are called to live. This is not just isolated into our own parochial setting but rather a recognition of what we do locally has a global effect. We are called to discover that our capacity for action in our daily life has an influence that can transform our community and our world. We discover that our actions for peace, compassion, and hope can counter those who seek to focus the world solely on themselves. We grow together rather than pursue solely our own interests. We are called to reflect on the principles which govern our lives and what direction we wish to follow.

Lastly, our prayerful awareness and consciousness of the environment can direct our efforts to take action. This needs to be considered and thought through as we help others to rebuild and relearn how to become people who imagine a better world. When we are confronted by the immediate man-made and natural disasters which confront us we need to discover wise hearts and discerning minds who can guide us in these efforts. This is most evident when we realize that many of the bushfires, floods, pandemics, and wars can cause people to become isolated and forgotten when they disappear from the news cycle. Our actions need to be built on being people who show the courage to build on solid foundations that show our faith in action. This helps us to experience that our lives are shaped by the person of Jesus who faced the temptation to be powerful, spectacular, and rich but to recognize it is God who can work with us and provide us with more than we can ask for or imagine. Our faith is built on this relationship, not on positions, experiences, or stuff that we may own. Our Lent helps us to rebuild our trust in God, trust in ourselves, and trust in our neighbour who walks alongside us as a pilgrim on the journey.