Father Joseph Illo, pastor of Star of the Sea in San Francisco, gave a nine-minute homily on Sunday, March 9.

We have entered the desert of Lent. I’m always amazed to see everyone beating down the door for ashes on Ash Wednesday. Everyone wants to believe that there is something beyond the grave.

Life is hard outside the Garden of Eden. We are restless wanderers in the desert. Christ places all His hope and trust in the Father.
In Christ, man is now ready for the devil’s attacks. He says no to the offer of bread by Satan. “God does not want it.” Maria Goretti said the same thing to Alessandro, her rapist-attacker, “God does not want it.”

The second temptation – all the cities of the world if you bend your knee.

The third temptation in Jerusalem. Throw yourself down. “God does not want it.”

Mother Teresa told her religious sisters, “When the devil comes to tempt you, just say ‘I don’t have time for this right now.'”

For the next 40 days, we should fast, seek silence, give alms but especially words of support and acts of charity.