Today we enter into the Fifth Sunday of Lent.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus teachers his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching. John’s Gospel is a preparation for the beginning of the passion to follow.
 
Each year, I share with you a story I read several years ago.
 

Native American Story

 
A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt.  He said “I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart.  One wolf is vengeful, angry and violent.  The other wolf is loving, compassionate and full of faith.”  The grandson asked, “Grandfather, which wolf will win the fight in your heart?”  The grandfather answered: “The one I feed.”
 
May we all have taken time during this period of Lent to change the things that need to be changed in your lives, embrace the changes that we have or will make and remember a loving God who is at our side in rain or shine.

In today’s Gospel, we are told that the “Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert where He remained for forty days, tempted by Satan.” He was challenged by Satan to be someone other than his Father wanted him to be.

But Jesus spent a long enough time listening in prayer that he gradually knew who he was and what he had to do. During Lent, Jesus invites us into the desert, the quiet of our hearts, and He asks us to listen to His Father’s words of love and mercy.

The Lenten Season, is a time for Renewal. Webster defines renewal as “make new again, begin again and replenish.” What a great opportunity we have to do it right this time! We cannot change yesterday, tomorrow is not yet here, but we have today and what we do with it is up to each of us.

Will our Lent be like many other times in our lives, just another time to be lived through?