February 21 is the First Sunday of Lent, and once again the Gospel is on the temptations of Jesus in the desert. How often have we heard this, and how often have we been reminded that these temptations of Our Lord are a signal to us to live the forty days of Lent in prayer, penance and sacrifice!

    This is so well known that it can have little impact. Certainly we might take more time for prayer, abstain from meat on Fridays and perhaps go to weekday Mass, but I feel more is asked of us. These Lenten actions are like the ads that tell us that this diet plan will help us be ready for our swimming suit when summer comes. We are not looking for spiritual quick fixes but for true lasting remedies!

   I was thinking about this when I saw someone out running to keep in shape. Then I thought of all of the people I have seen in centers on tread-mills, stair-steps, lifting weights and a variety of other exercise machines, all wanting to keep in shape. They are serious about their physical health. It was then the thought struck, “How do we keep in shape spiritually?” There has to be more than the quick fix that includes prayer, penance and sacrifice of Lent.

    True, because the temptations that Jesus endured and over came are the same in the lives of each one of us. However, there are two differences: Satan was trying to see if Jesus was the Messiah, and we know he is the Son of God. Satan knows none of us is the Messiah. He is very familiar with our stumbling in and out of grace. And his task is to have us abandon being children of God.

    As I noted Jesus’ temptations are the same as ours, not as dramatic, but still the same temptations to power, prestige and pleasure. Think of the times we have been determined to bully people, even our spouses, to do it our way or there is a donnybrook. Think of the times when we have been worried about what we should wear, what people think of us, why we weren’t chosen, how can we get attention? And then there is the inevitable, pursuit of pleasure, some legitimate but others perhaps less than good, even morally corrupt.

    To me there is only one “spiritual diet” that offers the long-haul for strength to overcome these or any other temptations. That of course is virtue! There are two general categories of virtues. One is the supernatural virtues: faith, hope and charity. These are graces God gives us to believe in, trust and love him. Our regular prayer life helps us to strengthen these virtues as God’s grace increases within us.

   The other is human virtues. Of these are what are called the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. But the basis of all of these is the actions that become habits — forming our soul and spirit to affirm and strengthen our moral behavior. But this only comes about by constant repetition. Like people on tread-mills and weight machines, virtues become our spiritual strengths only through constant exercise.

   Such spiritual exercise helps us to control our passions so that the lure of pleasures does not deter us from following Our Lord. Or they can help us understand that being the center of attention is not what gives us value but being firmly by the side of Our Lord does. Or help us when we seem to think our way is the only way and bullying by voice or action is okay. It is a practiced virtue that helps us respect the human dignity we all share as children of God.

    As we listen to the Gospel of the temptations of Jesus and the directions of how to have a good Lent, we need to remember that virtue is not a forty day exercise. It is the exercise of self-denial, self-mastery, seeking always the good, following the teachings of the church and Scripture so that we may make the correct moral choices in every situation. For this truth teaches that the goal of a virtuous life is to live forever with God.

   This Lent may God help us keep that goal in mind and give us the fortitude to embark on a more strenuous exercise of virtue to attain it. Lenten prayer, penance and sacrifice, indeed. But growth in virtue above all.