What Deserts Are You Facing This Lent?

What Deserts Are You Facing This Lent?

I remember the best Lent I ever had. That year, I noticed on the First Sunday of Lent a phrase in the story of Jesus’ temptation: “ … he remained in the desert” (Mark 1:13). This phrase struck me because there were situations in my life at the time that were very desert-like, in the sense of feeling empty and desolate. So my Lent became a time of remaining with Jesus in that desert. Lent was not usually my favorite time of the liturgical year, but I was surprised to find myself “enjoying” this particular Lent because I felt so immersed in the season. Somehow, even though the difficult things in my life didn’t get any better, I felt less miserable about them because they helped me remain in the desert with Jesus. Actually, it began with me trying to remain with Jesus, but in the end I realized that He was remaining with me. By the time the next Lent came around... Read more >>http://pauline.org/blog/ArticleID/1462

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A Great Start to Lent

If you’re looking for something you can do as a family to start Lent off together, consider going to see Son of God, currently playing in the theaters just in time for Ash Wednesday.
This TV adaptation for theatrical release offers some beautiful moments that might inspire our re-reading of the Gospel this Lent. Rather than focus on Jesus’ preaching, Son of God revolves around the events of Jesus’ life, especially his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
The portrayal of Jesus’ compassion, along with the reactions of Peter, Thomas, Mary Magdalen, and others to Jesus’ unexpected words or actions offers us another way of pondering our answer to Jesus’ question: “Who do you say that I am?”
Despite its episodic TV feel and some elements that did not translate gracefully to the large screen, Son of God filmmakers succeed at the difficult task of making this two-hour-and-twenty-minute film an accessible portrayal of Jesus. Viewing Son of God as a family can help us to begin our Lenten journey with our attention focused on Christ.
(Note to parents: while the scenes of Jesus’ Passion and Death are not as intense nor as violent as Passion of the Christ, they may be too graphic for young children.)