Lent is about helping us change for the better. But change is a choice.

The Gospel today recounts the story of the temptation of the Spirit-filled Jesus in the desert. Jesus chooses to face those temptations. So must we. He cooperates when the Spirit leads him to confront evil. So must we cooperate with the Spirit if victory over sin is going to be the result. This is why we celebrate Lent over the next forty days. But Lent is a choice. No one can force it on you ~ despite what the liturgical calendar says! You can ignore it.

Some will do just that: choose to “sit this one out.” Others will choose to face the darkness that cripples their vision and see the Light that restores it. They will face the sin that binds their hands and discover the mercy that frees them. They will face the selfishness that impoverishes their neighbor and discover the charity that enriches them. They will face the guilt that steals their joy; the fear that stunts their growth; and the anger that sabotages their relationships. But only to discover the Love that delivers them from all three. Lent is a gift that beckons to be opened. But in the end, the choice is yours.