Today we observe the 1st Sunday of Lent. Annually, the Liturgy of the Word at the beginning of the first week of Lent tells us about Jesus’ fasting in the desert. He spent there 40 days being tempted by the devil. In St. Luke’s account, which we read this year, Jesus reminds us: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”. The number of 40 is a symbolic number in Scripture and due to its biblical meaning the Church has chosen to observe the Lenten season for 40 days. In the Bible the flood at the time of Noah lasted 40 days, Moses remained 40 days on the Mount of Sinai before he received the Ten Commandments (Decalogue), and the Prophet Elijah made a trip to the Mount of Horeb through 40 days. All of those biblical episodes were of great importance and served the people as a preparation time for the mission given them by God. The chosen people by prayer, fasting, and sacrifice became capable of fulfilling the will of God. Yet, when we look carefully at the calendar we may say that Lent does not last precisely 40 days because from March 6th (Ash Wednesday) to Easter Sunday (April 21st) there are 46 days. That mathematics is correct but according to the ancient Christian tradition the Church does not fast on Sundays because each Sunday is a feast of the Resurrection of the Lord. During Lent we have 6 Sundays, so deducting 6 from 46 gives us exactly 40.

This Sunday is also a day of celebrating the Rite of Election of Catechumens (adult candidates for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation). We are happy that in our Parish community we have 5 catechumens who will receive the Sacraments of Christian Initiation during the Paschal Vigil on April 20th. Please, keep them in your prayers so that they may be well prepared for this important point in their lives.

We are encouraged to perform Lenten observances. Some propositions you may find in this bulletin. I would like to invite you to attend the Stations of the Cross on Fridays and a Lenten Retreat Day on Sunday, March 24th in our church.

This Wednesday, March 13th, there will be the 6th anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis. Let us pray for the Holy Father and all the intentions he holds in his heart!

God bless,
Father Peter