Lent Week 1 - Choices

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Lent Week 1 - Choices

Week 1: February 26, 2023
First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 2: 7-9, 3: 1-7; Psalm 51: 3-6, 12-17; Romans 5: 12, 17-19; Matthew 4: 1-11

As Christians we believe God has gifted us with free will. Making the right choice, being able to choose is essential to being Children of God. Today’s readings are all about choices: those made in the Garden of Eden, Jesus’ choices during the temptations in the desert and Jesus’ choices in the Garden of Gethsemane. Learning to make good choices is the work of a lifetime. Lent offers us an opportunity to reflect on our choices, to notice who and what influence our choices and to be aware of the effects our choices will have on other people, events and situations.

Lent invites us to look at the choices we make in daily life: what time to get up, what to wear, what to eat, what to do after work/school, etc. We are also called to look more closely at some of the more significant choices we have: our relationship with God; our personal relationships; our mental, emotional and physical health; our financial stewardship; and our responses to those most in need.

Discover

As you prepare to live this First Week of Lent think about:

Who or what influences your choices?

Do you want to change anything about the way you make choices?

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Which gift do you desire most right now?

Gifts HolySpirit 500

Go Deeper

Learn more about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and/or the discernment process developed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola for making good decisions.

Catholic 101: Gifts of the Holy Spirit

11 Steps for Making a Decision Following the Ignatian Method

Live

Watch this brief video featuring Archbishop Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, CA, and choose one way you will make choices this week in solidarity with others.