I think many of you know that my dad passed away when I was in seventh grade. It was traumatic for our family. 

One of my favorite memories of my dad is on Sundays we would go visit my grandmother and the whole family would pile into the car. Mom and dad, my two sisters, my brother and I. Before the car ever left the driveway, My father would have us make the sign of the cross together. The sign of the cross was a sign that we were going on a journey, a trip together. We asked for the blessings of God to be with us. 

This past Wednesday we celebrated Ash Wednesday. We went to church and we received the sign of the cross in ashes on our forehead. The words were told us, turn away from sin and follow the good news or remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return. And so our Lenten journey of 40 days began. 

During the Lenten season the church gives us three disciplines to follow. Simple and difficult at the same time 

But they are a wonderful guide into this holy season. To pray, to fast, and to do acts of kindness And charity for one another. The disciplines of Lent to help to purify our minds and our bodies and our spirits as we draw closer to the Lord and one another. 

In the gospel today Jesus is led out into the desert by the spirit, how important that is. God is with Jesus in every moment of life and he’s tempted by the devil. We all know the story. Tempted about material things, tempted about prestige, tempted about honor. And Jesus says no to all of it. 

Jesus knows that the source of life, the source of love, the source of his ability to do the work of the gospel comes from his father. You shall not put the Lord your God to a test and Jesus refuses the temptations of the devil. The devil says though at the end I’ll look for another time to tempt you. The temptations are with us in every moment of life. You know that and I know that. 

But if we keep focused on the Lord, if we keep focused on our prayer, on our fasting and reaching out to help one another, those beautiful disciplines of Lent will be just fine. I pray for you. I pray for your families that this be the very best of Lents, together.