Jesus goes into the desert for forty days to engage in spiritual battle with the devil, the tempter. Our Lenten journey is modelled on that same spiritual combat. While the times are difficult, we don’t need to lessen our penance, but use the traditional means of prayer, fasting and alms giving to fight our own sins and weakness. It’s not about “giving up” minor things, but using fasting to control what often controls us. Let us fight our passions to be free for Easter!