PRIEST: We have begun our journey of these 40 days of Lent – like Jesus we enter into the desert to face the demons of our own hearts – demons of selfishness and of comfort, demons of greed and exploitation. Whatever our demons are, Lent is a time to confront and defeat them in the power of Jesus’ love. Jesus seeks to set us free from everything that imprisons our hearts and limits our love. So let us enter upon the sacred and life-giving task and so grow in the freedom of the children of God…
READER: Jesus is tempted to be popular with the crowd rather than faithful to His Father:
when we conform to others wisdom and prejudices
rather than live by the challenging values of the Gospel
LORD HAVE MERCY
Jesus is tempted to use His power for his own gain, rather than to enrich others with life:
when we use our power to diminish others or
to satisfy our own desires, rather than to serve others
CHRIST HAVE MERCY
Jesus is tempted to take the quick and easy road to success,
rather than the hard road through calvary to love’s victory:
when we opt for our own comfort, when we do not want
to be disturbed or to disturb
LORD HAVE MERCY
PRIEST: May the God who calls us to the desert of his love embrace us with mercy;
may the Redeemer who walks our path of temptation so forgive us
as to heal our sin;
may the Spirit change our hearts and give us the joy of repentance;
and bring us and the world to everlasting life
AMEN!