As we enter the season of Lent, the Church invites us into 40 days of intentional reflection, repentance, and renewal. These readings remind us that Lent is not simply about giving something up, but about making room for God. For Christian stewards, this season calls us to look honestly at how we are using the time entrusted to us and whether our daily choices reflect trust in the Lord.
Our first reading from Genesis takes us back to the beginning and reveals the goodness of God’s original design. Out of love, God formed humanity, breathed life into us, and placed Adam and Eve in a garden rich with beauty and abundance. Their life with God was marked by trust, gratitude, and attentiveness to His presence. Time itself was a gift — ordered around relationship with the Creator.
That harmony was disrupted when doubt entered their hearts. Tempted by the serpent, Adam and Eve questioned God’s goodness and turned their attention away from Him. In that moment, they chose their own judgment over God’s word. This same temptation remains familiar to us. When our time becomes filled with distractions, busyness, or self-reliance, it becomes easier to lose sight of God’s presence and purposes in our lives.
In our second reading, St. Paul reminds us that God did not abandon humanity to this broken pattern. While disobedience led to sin and separation, obedience leads to restoration. Through Jesus Christ — the new Adam — God offers mercy, healing, and new life. Conversion is possible because grace is given. Lent invites us to slow down long enough to receive that grace and allow it to reshape how we live.
The Gospel then shows us what faithful stewardship looks like in practice. Jesus enters the desert, fasts for 40 days, and confronts temptation directly. He does not rush past this time of testing or seek to escape it. Instead, He remains rooted in Scripture and attentive to the Father’s will. By giving time to prayer, silence, and trust, Jesus reveals that spiritual strength grows where time is intentionally placed in God’s hands.
Lent invites us to follow this same path. It is a season to examine whether our schedules leave room for prayer, Scripture, and quiet attentiveness to God. This may require setting aside certain distractions or habits so that time can be reclaimed for what matters most. When we intentionally place God at the center of our days, gratitude deepens, trust grows, and stewardship becomes a way of life.
By embracing these 40 days with purpose, we prepare our hearts to celebrate Easter renewed, restored, and ready to live more fully as disciples of Christ.
