As lent begins we reflect on the temptations of Jesus. The gospels of Matthew and Luke recount three temptations by the devil, in different order. This year we read Luke's account. The devil tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, to compromise himself for worldly power, and to perform a spectacular miracle to win acclaim. Jesus refuses all these temptations. He will not be the kind of Messiah the devil wants him to be. He will walk the way of the Cross to a kingdom not of this world.

Each of these temptations has something to stir our conscience. It would be wonderful if all the hungry people in the world could be fed. We are urged to give generously, so that people who are poor and deprived can have the necessities of life.  Parents work hard to provide food for their families. But Jesus says that there is more to life than care for our earthly existence. We need to live by God's word. We need to be nourished by God's word. Many families are very involved in many good activities, so many that coming to weekend Mass is not one of them, providing catechetical formation for children is not one of them, family prayer is not one of them, growing in adult faith is not one of them. Lent gives us an opportunity to examine where our priorities lie. The late Archbishop Murphy of Seattle, in an address on stewardship, asked: "What do I own, and what owns me?" Do we dare to ask that question of ourselves?

Our scientific world has provided us with many things. For many, science has the answer to all life's questions. Many of our politicians offer us utopias based on human ingenuity. We are fortunate to have all the medical and technological advantages that former ages did not have. But science, economics and politics without morality can lead us far astray. When we exclude God from these dimensions of life, we make them idols.

When we make decisions at the ballot box, in the market place, in the doctor's office or in the hospital without including God, we set ourselves up as God. Because we live in a culture that has banished God and God's ways, we experience the violence and greed that bring misery to so many. Can we be honest about how we make judgments about these issues? Can we recognize where we have gone astray? Can we have the discipline to search out the truth and get back on the right track?

Jesus refused to be a popular magician. He would not take the easy way to win people over. Still, however, many people cling to superstitions and think they can manipulate God by their own actions.  Of course, we should pray for ourselves and others.  Of course God can and does work miracles at times. But the real miracles have to happen in our hearts. Our prayer always has to be the prayer of Jesus in the garden: "Not my will but thine be done." Can we really pray "thy will be done"? Can we really seek the will of God, even when it means the Cross and suffering? Lent invites us to take on voluntary suffering and sacrifice to conform our will to God's. Do we have the courage to make the sacrifice of our own will, our own desires, our own preferences?

If, this lent, we can resist the temptations Jesus resisted, we can look forward to new life at Easter. May the grace of this season help us to that new life.