The temptations Jesus faced are not much different than those we all face, and He not only gives us a model for how to respond to them with humility, but He also promises to stand with us as we face them and help us to reject them. And even when we fail, we can get up, go back to our Father, and be received with prodigious love.

The practice of giving things up for Lent is about learning detachment from good things, so that God can have His proper place in our lives.

It’s easier to put people into categories rather than see them as an individual loved in particular by God. As Lent begins, think of the people in your life that you have dumped into categories, and ask God for the grace to see them as He does.

It’s easier to put people into categories rather than see them as an individual loved in particular by God. As Lent begins, think of the people in your life that you have dumped into categories, and ask God for the grace to see them as He does.

We are not spared the crosses and hardships of this world, but God is right there with us in the thick of it. Look at your cross at home and let it be a reminder to you that in everything, our God is with us: not sparing us troubles, but promising to be with us in the midst of them and, ultimately, to bring hope out of them.

We are not spared the crosses and hardships of this world, but God is right there with us in the thick of it. Look at your cross at home and let it be a reminder to you that in everything, our God is with us: not sparing us troubles, but promising to be with us in the midst of them and, ultimately, to bring hope out of them.

In any relationship, trust is built from coming to know someone. Read the Gospel of Mark this week (two chapters a day takes about 10 minutes) and get to know Jesus better by reading His story, and learn from Him that He is worthy of your trust.

In any relationship, trust is built from coming to know someone. Read the Gospel of Mark this week (two chapters a day takes about 10 minutes) and get to know Jesus better by reading His story, and learn from Him that He is worthy of your trust.