The 2023 Bishop Ireton Lenten Reflection Booklet

Written by the BI Faculty and Staff

Thank you to all the contributors. May God bless you as you read and reflect on His word this Lenten season.

Opening Message

By Kathleen McNutt, Head of School

Dear Bishop Ireton Community,

Lent is upon us, and we find ourselves preparing to follow Christ’s ministry, passion and death over the next 40 days. While we will all experience this liturgical season in different ways, we will all be ministered to by the same Spirit. It is this Spirit that will help us persevere in our observances of prayer, fasting, and service, whether it is here on Cambridge Road or in our homes.

I am so grateful to the faculty and staff who have dedicated time and prayerful effort to provide the reflections in this year’s Salesian Lenten booklet. My prayer is that their words speak to your heart and mind, and help you focus on the season and the presence of God in your life. I hope that this is just one of the many ways that Christ will reach you and our community this Lent. May these opportunities of reading and reflection draw us closer to Him so that we can experience the joys of the Resurrection come Easter.

God Bless and Live Jesus,

Kathleen McNutt Head of School

Opening Salesian Lenten Reflection

By Father Donald Heet, OSFS St. Francis de Sales on Temptation

On Ash Wednesday, one of the formulas that we hear when we receive ashes is “Repent and believe the gospel.” The words remind us that Lent is more than at time to give up something we like, or even to start doing something “extra”. At its root, Lent is a time to turn away from sin so that we may celebrate the gift of new life at Easter with purified hearts. Mindful of this truth, when we hear the gospel about Jesus being tempted by Satan on the first Sunday of Lent, Francis de Sales devoted his sermon to the topic of temptation, He began that sermon by reminding his listeners “that no one is exempt from temptation when they have truly resolved to serve God.” As he goes on to explain, the devil doesn’t need to spend much time tempting those who are habitual sinners; they carry temptation within themselves. It is those who are trying to be faithful to God who experience temptation and who are most bothered by it. In both that sermon as well as in Part 4 of his Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis reflects on temptation and how to deal with it.

In the Introduction he begins by distinguishing temptation from sin. He writes, “Temptation to a certain sin, to any sin whatsoever, might last throughout our whole life, yet it can never make us displeasing to God’s Majesty provided we do not take pleasure in it and give consent to it.” Even though we have felt a strong attraction to the temptation – it wouldn’t be a temptation if we weren’t attracted – if we kept our resolution never to consent to the sin or the temptation, we haven’t sinned. In fact, Francis tells us, “God permits violent assaults and strong temptations only in souls whom he desires to raise up to his own pure and surpassing love.” However, our rejection of temptation is not automatic; it is by means of the continued practice of prayer, the sacraments and confidence in God that our strength will return, and we will live a healthful and happy life.

Some temptations are very strong and dangerous. The first way to resist them is to turn to God and implore his mercy and love; if the temptation persists, Francis suggests imagining Jesus on the cross. Look at our crucified Savior rather than at the temptation; in other words, refocus your attention on the Lord. You can also turn your thoughts to some good commendable activity; when such thoughts enter and find place in your heart, they will drive away temptations and evil thoughts.

However, most temptations are much smaller in nature: feelings of pride or jealousy, laziness, overeating, brief anger and the like. Francis says they are much like gnats that buzz around our face. They are not nearly as dangerous as wolves or bears, but much more annoying. The best way to deal with them is to ignore them as much as possible. If they persist, you can perform an opposing virtue – e.g., if you are tempted to be judgmental about someone, ask the Lord to bless them and change you. He also advises identifying which temptations we most often experience and then very consciously work to live our lives in a way that is opposite to them; if we are tempted to gluttony, make a point of not taking a second portion.

That last suggestion seems to be a good way of spending Lent. Identify your most bothersome temptation and then adopt a practice that is contrary to it. At the same time, every day, ask the Lord for help in resisting that temptation. Finally, if it is a temptation you have given into, make a point of confessing it in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. After all, Lent can be a grace-filled time. It’s a time to ask the Lord to help you to “Repent and believe the Gospel,” so that you can celebrate Easter with a renewed heart.

The First Sunday of Lent Opening Reflection

By Stephen Crooker

The spiritual journey of Lent begins with a wonderful and powerful reading from the Book of Genesis regarding the creation of Adam. The beginning of life and humanity’s relationship with our Creator is powerfully spoken in Genesis and is, very timely, the very key to the larger message of Lent itself. As we begin the walk with Our Lord these days of Lent, we too, begin a journey to “reset” our relationship with our Creator. Like our first parents, Adam and Eve, we are also tempted into sin. We are called to rise above sin and embrace the grace given to us by Jesus Christ. Like Adam and Eve, we too want to open our eyes and see more, but we fall into lure of sin. Lent is a reminder that we can, and must, rise above our fallen human nature. Saint Paul very clearly echoes this very theme when he states that sin entered the world through Adam and through Jesus Christ, we are redeemed from sin and called to share in the participation of eternal life with Him. Lent is a reminder to be fully alive, living in the fullness of grace. When Jesus entered the desert and wasteland for those forty days, He did so with the support and love of His Father. Satan, always tempting, comes to Jesus when the moment seems most ideal, when his weakness, hunger and thirst are deeply compelling. Only then does Satan make the same offer to Jesus that was made to Adam. Unlike Adam, Our Lord will follow the divine plan. Unlike Adam, o ur Lord will not forsake nor despair. No false god or fallen angel will be worshipped. God alone is victorious and He is the author of life itself. Our Lord’s great statement to “Get away, Satan!” is our rally and call to follow as we begin Lent. Get away from sin! Get away from division! Get away from lying! Follow the Lord into Lent this year. Walk with Him and know that your journey is not one that is made alone.

God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love.

The First Sunday of Lent

Gospel Reading

Matthew 4: 1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.