Episode Transcript
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The first Sunday of Lent's Gospel
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tells of Jesus in the wilderness.
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To derail Him from His mission
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the Devil tempts Jesus with power and relevance.
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This is a bit like how we get tempted and side-tracked today.
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I mean,
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ever found yourself aimlessly scrolling through social media,
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making an impulse buy,
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diverted from your original purpose by clever algorithms?
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These platforms are designed to keep us engaged,
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often making us crave power, validation, and relevance
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through likes and shares and instant gratification.
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It's a modern twist on temptation,
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with digital distractions diverting our focus
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and confusing us about what’s important.
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We're pulled away from our goals, our mission,
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much like the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness.
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Hi, I'm Francis, and I serve as IT integration developer
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in the Archdiocesan Services - Enterprise Architecture team.
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I’ve also recently begun my journey in diaconate formation
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within the Archdiocese.
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The question, "What are my barriers to entering a spiritual life?"
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Is particularly relevant today,
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given the many distractions we encounter,
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often disguised as productivity.
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Whether it’s mindlessly scrolling through social media,
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mindfully consuming the alarming news of the day,
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or being absorbed in trivial matters,
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I’ve found these distractions can subtly
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pull me away from what truly matters.
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I take great comfort in knowing that Jesus himself
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faced temptations and distractions.
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In His time in the wilderness,
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He was tempted with power and validation,
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things we also wrestle with today.
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By reflecting on His example,
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I’m reminded to turn to Him for help,
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knowing that His strength is greater than any distraction I face.
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Staying focused requires constant renewal of our 'why',
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the reason we were called to the mission in the first place.
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When I reconnect with that purpose,
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I’m able to see through distractions
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and regain clarity and direction.
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I’ve also learned that
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setting aside moments throughout the day for reflection and prayer
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helps me stay centred and committed.
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It’s in those quiet moments that I'm reminded
of a simple but profound spiritual principle,
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poco a poco, little by little.
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When the magnitude of the mission feels overwhelming,
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I remember that I only need to be present and focused
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one moment and one task at a time.
