Well, we are a handful of days into Lent, and I hope it’s been a good start. One of the phrases we use a lot as Catholics is “Lenten practices” which are traditionally defined as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We say it so often we might not stop to think about what that word practice really means. Practice is what you do when you are striving towards an ideal or role model. Olympic athletes practice for years for one moment of competition. Musicians practice scales so they can play beautifully when it matters. In Lent, you and I practice spiritual habits so our minds, our hearts, and our choices begin to resemble someone.
And who is our role model? Jesus, of course.
As we journey through Lent, it’s worth asking a simple question: are our Lenten practices actually making us more like him? Because Lent invites us to do more than learn about Jesus or remember what he said. We are called to imitate him. These forty days are not just about ideas; they are training…practice in thinking like Christ, responding like Christ, loving like Christ. We watch how he handles the very situations we face to learn how to become more like him.
Today the Gospel shows Jesus facing temptation. And that matters, because every one of us knows what it means to be tempted, to drift toward comfort, pride, impatience, or selfishness. The question is not whether temptation comes. The question is: what do we do when it arrives and how does Jesus handle it?
First, Jesus expects the trial. He goes into the desert with a purpose. He is not surprised by the devil’s attacks. He knows where he is, what is coming, and who he is. There is a calm readiness about him.
How often are we shocked by our own weakness? We fall into the same patterns and act like we never saw it coming. But most of the time, we know our weak spots and problem areas. We know when we are most vulnerable…when we are tired, stressed, lonely, bored, or discouraged. We know the situations that provoke us. We know the habits that quietly chip away at our freedom.
Lent invites us into honest self-knowledge. Not shame. Not discouragement. Just clear awareness. Expect temptation. Expect weakness. Prepare your heart before the moment arrives.
Preparation is practical. It means deciding ahead of time how we will react when stress hits. It means planning how we will respond when frustration rises. It means acknowledging our limits instead of pretending we are stronger than we are. Readiness is not pessimism; it is honest acceptance of our struggles. The disciple prepares before the trial, just like the Master. When we expect the struggle, we are less likely to panic when is arrives. We can pause. We can pray. We can remember who we are and whose we are. And that preparation often makes all the difference.
Secondly, Jesus does not entertain temptation. He shuts it down. He doesn’t debate it. He doesn’t linger. He does not let the suggestion grow roots. Evil is given no room to breathe. We often do the opposite. We let temptation stay awhile. We keep the door cracked open. We replay the thought. We negotiate with ourselves. And then we are surprised when it grows stronger.
Often the first step is not blatantly sinful. It is a subtle step away from what is good. Something seemingly harmless in itself, begins to pull us in a direction that weakens us. Extra screen time that drains our attention. A habit that lowers our vigilance. A distraction that crowds out prayer. The first movement is rarely dramatic. It is subtle and gradual. But once we drift from what strengthens us, we become more vulnerable to the sinful and harmful. That is why spiritual wisdom tells us to address the problem early. Remove the occasion. Change the environment. Create distance from what weakens you. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
When we eliminate what leads us to sin, we protect our capacity to love well and choose wisely. Habits do not change by accident. They change when we stop negotiating with what we already know is not life-giving.
Third, Jesus does not engage temptation on the devil’s terms; instead, he turns everything back toward God.
Every temptation becomes an opportunity to reaffirm his relationship with the Father. Every moment of pressure becomes an act of trust. He does not try to manage life independently. He returns everything to God, his Father. Temptation often whispers that we can manage on our own, that we can be our own master and source of strength. But Jesus shows us another way. He re-centers every struggle in trust and obedience.
And that gives us hope. Giving in to temptation is not inevitable. With God’s grace, the story can unfold differently. Even familiar patterns can be rewritten. When we humbly acknowledge our weakness, lean on grace, and keep our focus on God rather than the temptation, new outcomes are possible.
Last of all, Lent is not only about removing sin. It is about filling that space with something good. Jesus responds to temptation with Scripture because his mind and heart are full of God’s word. What comes out in the moment of trial is what has already been planted within.
We cannot simply empty ourselves of selfishness; we must fill ourselves with prayer, charity, truth, and goodness. If we remove distraction, we replace it with attention to God. If we fast from comfort, we feast on gratitude. If we step away from noise, we make room for listening. As you work with God to drive sin out of your life, make sure you are constantly filling the void with virtue, truth, and beauty.
With all of this in mind, let’s use this Lent to practice imitation of Jesus, our savior and model. Expect the trial. Remove what leads us toward it. Turn every struggle toward God. And fill our lives with what is holy and life-giving.
The goal of Lent is not simply to give things up. The purpose is to become someone new… someone who looks and acts a little more like Jesus.
