41 days of lent
A lent reflection on Matthew 4:1–11
Welcome back to Ordinary Gospel, where I interpret the Sunday readings from the perspective of an ordinary Catholic. I’m not a theologian, so I welcome everyone’s input to enrich our understanding.
I use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) with Apocrypha for the Bible.
This Sunday’s gospel is from Matthew 4:1–11, which tells the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.
TL;DR:
- Jesus fasted and went to the wilderness
- The devil tempted him and promised the kingdoms of the world
- Jesus rebuked him, and the devil left
I’ve read this bible story many times over the years. I’m always surprised on how it speaks to us throughout our life journeys.
In this lent, Matthew 4:2 resonates with me, and it has a good message for everyone
“He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished”
Lent is a period where we give up some things. It could be chocolate, snacks, social media, or many others. Day 41 (excluding Sundays) is considered freedom day! We break our fast and re-enjoy our “chocolates”. To me, what is the point of lent? Is it just an annual reminder?
If we reflect on Jesus’ story, he was tempted on day 41. These are the moments where Jesus, in his humanity, was weaker and he was “famished”. Similarly, I’ve seen those who achieved a mass diet l
Lent is a period that reminds us to get closer to God. This includes relying on Him where “one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”. Like any relationship, getting closer has a more permanent nature.
Forming a new habit takes time. In a famous research study by Phillippa Lally, a new habit took between 18 days to 254 days. Lent period is an excellent start to exploring what we should sacrifice and what would bring us closer to God. Positive reinforcements are more effective. We gradually shape our life towards it and naturally give up several old ways.
The research also found that “missing one opportunity to perform the behavior did not materially affect the habit formation process.” Catholics often adopt an all-or-nothing approach where we beat ourselves for “failing”. It is okay, and we have a confession for that.
During lent, support is essential. An excellent Catholic friend is invaluable, but often this is not the case. We live in a contemporary world, and my friends have diverse religious beliefs. As Jesus demonstrated, we have guardian angels that protect us. Therefore, praying more is important to build a better relationship with our heavenly family.
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