The temptations of this world are with us also so long as we are in it: the desire to possess – the acquisitive instinct – is part of our nature and is therefore not wrong in itself.  It becomes wrong when we crave for unworthy objects.  We can either satisfy it fully by desiring most of all to know and possess God, to be one with him: or we can seek instead the material things of the world which will all have to be left behind one day – comfort, ease, popularity, this world’s goods and the like.

So Lent is a time to discipline and direct the desires of the soul and this will be done by giving ourselves to God in prayer that we may be concerned chiefly with desiring him.  “…Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (King James Bible, Matthew 4:10).  Thus, lastly and more important than all else, we must overhaul our rule of prayer, setting aside a fixed time morning and evening and giving a greater place to adoration; for example, by slowly repeating the familiar words from the Eucharist:

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high”. (1)

We could perhaps extend the range of our intercessions, increase the number of our Communions and be more careful in our preparation and thanksgiving for them.  In all these ways we will learn to purify our desires and weaken the pull that the world is always exerting on us.  And in so doing we will be drawn closer to Our Lord.