ABVM PARISH COMMUNITY

  HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION Hebrews 2:17-18 tells us that Jesus “had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.  Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” Everyone who wants to obey God and do good will be tested, as was the Son of God.  In this testing, of whatever nature it might be, we are not alone.  Scripture affirms that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.  So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Hebrews 4:15-16). God does not abandon us when we are tempted.  In fact, we pray every day in the Lord’s Prayer, “lead us not into temptation.”  This passage can be properly translated from the original Greek of the Gospel as “do not allow us to enter

  WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR LENT?             Lent will arrive on Wednesday, so get ready to hold back on the alleluia!   Part of our collective penance during Lent is to suppress the alleluia, which is one of our chief expressions of joy.   But is there no joy during this holy season?   Is it all gloom and misery?   Not if we follow the Savior.   At the Last Supper, Jesus speaks of his interior joy, even as he knows of the horrible things that will soon happen to him.   He says to the apostles, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (Jn 15:11).   Later, in his prayer to the Father, he says, “But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (Jn 17:13).   If Christ continued to experience joy during his Passion, certainly we also may be filled with his joy during the penitential season of Lent.   And in our own passion.             Jesus experienced joy at every mom