I got into a somewhat Lenten mood early last night
around the fire and therefore read one of Pope Leo the Great’s sermons on Lent. I found the following reflection on the
Temptation of Christ (And remember that Jesus’ 40 days and 40 nights in the
wilderness is one of the themes of Lent.) particularly on target. On this Ash Wednesday, I present it to
you along with my prayers for a blessed Lent.
As
we approach then, dearly-beloved, the beginning of Lent, which is a time for
the more careful serving of the Lord, because we are, as it were, entering on a
kind of contest in good works, let us prepare our souls for fighting with
temptations, and understand that the more zealous we are for our salvation, the
more determined must be the assaults of our opponents. But "stronger is He
that is in us than He that is against us," and through Him are we powerful
in whose strength we rely: because it was for this that the Lord allowed
Himself to be tempted by the tempter, that we might be taught by His example as
well as fortified by His aid. For He conquered the adversary, as ye have heard,
by quotations from the law, not by actual strength, that by this very thing He
might do greater honour to man, and inflict a greater punishment on the adversary
by conquering the enemy of the human race not now as God but as Man. He fought
then, therefore, that we too might fight thereafter: He conquered that we too
might likewise conquer. For there are no works of power, dearly-beloved,
without the trials of temptations, there is no faith without proof, no contest
without a foe, no victory without conflict. This life of ours is in the midst
of snares, in the midst of battles; if we do not wish to be deceived, we must
watch: if we want to overcome, we must fight.
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