Echoing the positive feedback and experience of those who attended the Mardi Gras in our parish last Saturday, I would like to thank our Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils for making our Mardi Gras not only successful, but also enjoyable. Special thanks to Bridget Fogarty for all of her hard work and Judy Bergstrom for inviting Nick Fiasco who provided entertainment and made the night full of fun as he sang songs from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin. He touched many hearts and some were even moved to sing and dance with him. It was a great night. Everybody enjoyed the food, wine, music and company. Thanks to all of the sponsors, also. Till next year Mardi Gras!
From feasting, we come to the season of Lent. We began our observance of Lent last Wednesday when we celebrated Ash Wednesday and it will last until forty days before Easter Sunday. Traditionally, it is marked by praying, fasting, abstinence and other acts of penance.
The purpose of this is to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter in a more spiritual and meaningful way. Even Jesus observed these pious acts of prayer, fasting and abstinence when he went into the desert for forty days before he started his public ministry, which is our gospel this Sunday. There he encountered the devil who offered him three temptations: to change stone into bread, to fall down and worship the devil, and to jump down from the pinnacle of the Temple. In each of these three temptations, what the devil says to Jesus is, “Come on; use what you have to get what you want.” And in each case Jesus overcomes the temptation by replying, “No, we can only use godly means to satisfy our God-given needs or to pursue our goals in life.”
This is clear that if Jesus encountered temptations, how much more are we? Every day we encounter temptations, especially in those areas in which we are weak. The devil is telling us, go and try it. Why deprive yourself? It is good. Sometimes there is that inner battle occurring in us because our heart says go, but our mind or conscience says no. To be strengthened, Jesus gave us an example that through prayer, fasting and abstinence, we will be aided to do what is right and good, especially during this season of Lent.
This Sunday, I would like you also to remember in your prayers our three candidates who will be sent to Blessed Sacrament Cathedral for the Rite of Election. They are Heather Heckman, Jeffrey Lowers and Michael Snyder.