Jesus, the Desert & Us

1. Jesus, the Desert & Us Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

2. Lent, when is it? Lent is a 40 day season in the liturgical year leading up to Easter. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

3. When does it start? Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

4. Why Lent? • In all 3 Synoptic Gospels we read about Jesus spending time in the desert before he began his public ministry. • After Jesus was baptized “the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him” Mark 1:12-13 • We live this desert experience each year during Lent. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

5. The Gospel Story In the Gospel we hear how Jesus is offered power and glory by Satan. However he resists these temptations and spends his 40 days and nights in the desert fasting and preparing for his public ministry. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

6. What about us? Lent asks us to take time out from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, to have our own desert experience. Lent asks us to make sacrifices, resist temptations and give something back to those around us. It is a time which recalls an incident in the life of Jesus, the founder of Christianity, and is of great relevance to Christians today. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

7. What happens for us during Lent? • The solemn, reflective mood of Lent is obvious at its beginning on Ash Wednesday. • On that day, Catholics gather to receive ashes in the form of a cross on their foreheads. This reminds them that earthly life is temporary, that their life and efforts sometimes seem just like a pile of ashes, and that following Jesus will lead to the cross of suffering. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

8. This however is not a depressing thought, because they believe that the cross is the way to new life, to resurrection with Jesus.

9. What happens for us during Lent? Lent lasts for 40 days, to remind us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness before he began his public ministry. Throughout Lent people are challenged to renew themselves in these ways: • Fasting • Being More Self – Disciplined • Praying • Giving Alms Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

10. What does that actually mean? • Fasting means eating small meals and skipping snacks between meals on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday-as well as abstaining from meat on those 2 days plus all Fridays in Lent. These practices are required on those particular days, but other forms of fasting are also encouraged throughout Lent. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

11. What does this actually mean? • Being more self-disciplined means cutting back on some of the usual distractions and pleasures in your life. Many people decide to deny themselves something they really enjoy during Lent. This could mean giving up chocolate, sweets, TV, pocket money etc. The point is we do without something. We resist temptation, we become more self-disciplined. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

12. What does this actually mean? • Praying should happen more frequently and be more reflective. This fits with the idea of taking time out, creating some space in our lives and thinking about the deeper issues. • Giving Alms means giving to those in need, whether it is financial help (eg: Trocaire Box), service, or companionship (eg: SVP / L’arche) Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

13. But why? • Jesus spent his time in the desert fasting, praying, and becoming self-disciplined. Then he was ready to begin his Work of preaching the Good News. • For us in the 21st Century Lent is about renewal, getting ready to start again. It prepares our heart to be transformed. Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

14. Did you know? The word ‘Lent’ is from a French word meaning ‘springtime’ Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

15. The following clips are used with the permission of St. Anthony Messenger Press www.americancatholic.org Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

16. During Lent we Fast (click on this link) Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

17. We Give Alms & Help Others (click on this link) Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

18. We Remember the Actions of Jesus (click on this link) Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

19. We Pray (click on this link) Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service

20. So, what is Lent? An event from the life of Jesus, founder of Christianity. An event that took place over 2000 years ago that still has relevance today for Jesus’ followers Religious Education Support, Second Level Support Service