Our Mission Statement
"We, God's People of St. Augustine Parish, welcome ALL people to celebrate liturgies with us. As a spirit-filled Community, we are dedicated to the continuation of the mission of our Lord through Scripture, Sacrament, and Service.

First Sunday of Lent (03.09.2025)

          The Sundays of Lent present a recurring theme in preparing for the celebration of Easter. As a time of repentance, each Sunday gives Christians somethings upon which we may reflect. On this first Sunday of Lent we have begun the spiritual journey with Christ to enter the desert – to confront the Evil One and resist his false and empty promises. Our readings today tell us that faithfulness to God is rewarded with grace and strength. 

          In the first reading, Moses explains to the people how they are to offer their first fruits to the Lord. People should give proper praise and thanksgiving before the Lord God. In the second reading, Paul explores the connection between faith, its profession and salvation and justification. All should profess with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord. In the Gospel, we hear that Jesus is led into the desert by the Spirit. After his baptism, Jesus spends forty days in the desert where he encounters the devil and resists his temptations. 

          In Jesus’ temptation event, we see three sins reflected in the words of Satan. It is interesting to note that Satan begins two of them with the manipulative words: if you are the Son of God, and even uses scripture to serve his own ends. But on each occasion, Jesus resists and emerges as the faithful servant, ultimately using scripture to silence the tempter. Each temptation deserves attention. 

          In the first deeply personal temptation, the devil uses Jesus’ hunger to test his resolve and urges him to turn stone into bread. In the second temptation, Jesus is offered authority over all the kingdoms of the world. But as we know, Jesus’ authority is very different from earthly power – his is a kingdom of mercy, self-giving and healing. In the third temptation, the tempter urges Jesus to hurl himself from the top of the temple – to prove his divine credential. Satan knows that Jesus is God’s Son. Jesus overcomes all three temptations and becomes a model for all of us. 

          As we begin Lent with its disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we are reminded that the true beauty of the Incarnation is that Jesus experienced the full array of human temptations and yet resisted their empty promises. This is the model for our journey through Lent. As a faith community, let us practice our Lenten disciplines to overcome our temptations and create a space for God’s presence. 

          Let us have a blessed Lent!