Lent is meant to be a retreat to the desert to reset and orient ourselves toward God. Jesus was led by the Spirit to step away to the desert to fast, pray, and prepare for his public ministry. He spent 40 days in solitude to clear his mind and heart. Jesus emptied Himself to be filled by the Father for the journey ahead. Now it's our turn. Every year, we are gifted the 40 days of Lent to retreat from our usual routines and journey through our desert experience. This is a time

The theme of Light and Darkness continues in the Scriptures found in this week's Mass Readings. All of the Sunday Readings referred to us followers of Christ as light. Isaiah lays it out succinctly. ( Isaiah 58:7-10 ) If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday. The Responsorial Ps

Last week, on the Third Sunday in this Ordinary Time, the Reading from Isaiah spoke of degraded lands, anguish, gloom, a yoke that burdens shoulders, division, rivalry... Isaiah prophesied to the long-oppressed people of Israel that light ~ a great light ~ would come to save them. He describes in vivid imagery what would come when the Lord would be glorified. Anguish flies away, darkness is dispelled, gloom and distress will flee when this light has shone. The light brings ab