THE VIEW FROM THE DESERT - One Bread, One Body, 3/13/2011

"Lent and Baptism" is the title of the latest issue of Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth.
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Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth is designed as a bulletin insert which you can use at your local church to keep up to date on what the Holy Father is saying. You are free to reproduce it for this purpose.
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Sunday, March 13, 2011, First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17, Matthew 4:1-11
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/031311.shtml

THE VIEW FROM THE DESERT

"Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit." -Matthew 4:1

In the stark desolation of the physical desert, you can:
* see clearly without distraction.
* live simply, in a "lean and mean" lifestyle. Only the basic necessities for survival are valuable.
* discern value clearly. We tend to overvalue the things the world affords (1 Jn 2:16). In the desert, a cup of water has far more value than a diamond necklace.

In Lent, the Holy Spirit leads us into the desert to speak to our heart (Hos 2:16). This spiritual desert is similar to the physical desert:
* Temptations can be seen more clearly for what they are, without distraction.
* Things that seem so important in the world, such as the regard of others, fade into obscurity in the spiritual desert.
* Things that seem obscure in the clutter of society, such as God's opinion of you, are critically important in the desert.
* Your need for God's provision and protection is acute in the desert. The consequences of rebelling against God's direction can be fatal.

Most of all, the desert is a place of love (see Jer 2:2). In the desert the Lord allures us (Hos 2:16) by pouring out His love into our heart through the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5). The Israelites grumbled in the desert (see Ex 16:2), but in the Lenten desert, we will rejoice (Is 35:1). "In the desert prepare the way of the Lord!" (Is 40:3)

Prayer: Jesus, let me count everything as loss so that I may always consider You, and You alone, to be my Wealth (Phil 3:7-8).

Promise: "Through one Man's obedience, all shall become just." -Rm 5:19

Praise: Praise Jesus, Who precedes us into the desert and teaches us how to pray.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from February 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011
?Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July27, 2010

The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

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