Hold Nothing Back: Reflection by Fr. Brendan
Christians are crazy! In a world where most define themselves by what they do, Christians define themselves by whose they are. Yep, you read that correctly, Christians define themselves by whose they are. The Scriptures on this First Sunday of Lent remind us all that our true identity is found not in our accomplishments, our talents, or even our connections. Our true identity is found in our relationship with God. From the lips of Moses we are told to bring our first-fruits to the Altar and offer them to God. Offering first-fruits is the act of a slave towards their master, a child towards their parent, or a disciple towards their master. The blessings we receive belong not to we who possess them, but to the one from whom they originated. The faithful servant returns the first-fruits as an offering of the best we are to the Creator. God wants our very best!
But wait: God wants more! While Moses called us to offer our first-fruits to God, Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father wants our temptations too. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 4, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days. There Jesus faced the devil. Each time he was tempted Jesus remembered whose he was. Jesus remembered he was the Son of the Father. Jesus held nothing back from God, not even his temptations.
Brothers and sisters remember God wants our all: from our first-fruits to our struggles and temptations. This Lent remember whose you are and hold nothing back! Give your all to God as God gave us everything in his Son, Jesus the Christ.
Fr. Brendan Moss, OSB, is a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey serving as the 28th President-Rector of Conception Seminary College. In addition to the work of administration, he regularly teaches in the area of Pastoral Theology, particularly Preaching and Religious Education.
