How can I, on this First Sunday of Lent—when the Gospel reminds me that Jesus was “led” by the Spirit into the wilderness—recognize that the Laudato si’ Action Platform has similarly led me to develop a small-scale food production system at The Glenn, trust the Synod on Synodality’s call to rediscover our shared charisms and ministries, find peace in the fresh snow confirming the rightness of working the land my parents passed on to me, and keep praying for Daniel’s miracle through the intercession of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen—who observed that financial crises may shake the world but fail to touch the one who tills a few acres—knowing we are all “led” by the Spirit into God’s plan❓
A FINANCIAL DEPRESSION can empty half the apartments on Park Avenue, in New York City, but it fails to touch the man who owns and tills a few acres of land.
On Being Human: Reflections on Life and Living by tHE vENERABLE fULTON j. Sheen
Lectio Divina on the word “led“
Reading I
I have been led to this land, the very soil beneath my feet, by the grace of God and the legacy of my parents. He gave us this land flowing with milk and honey, a place where I have learned to cultivate not just food, but gratitude. The Glenn has become more than a home—it is a sacred trust, a reminder that to care for creation is to honor the One who led me here.
Responsorial Psalm
Life has led me through trials, moments of uncertainty, and times when I have questioned the path before me. Yet, I hold onto the promise: Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. The challenges I face, whether in homesteading, family, or faith, do not shake my trust in the One who leads me through every storm and into the light of His providence.
Reading 2
I have been led to understand that true wealth is not in possessions, but in faith, love, and community. In prayer, in the work of my hands, and in the quiet moments of reflection, I find the richness of God’s blessings, enriching all who call upon him. It is this abundance—not the fleeting riches of the world—that sustains me in all that I do.
Verse Before the Gospel
The Spirit has led me to recognize that the world offers many temptations, but my heart is nourished by something greater. One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. As I labor in the fields, as I pray for Daniel’s miracle, as I place my trust in God’s plan, I am reminded that it is His word, not material security, that truly sustains me.
Gospel
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,
to be tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days,
and when they were over he was hungry.
I have been led by faith, just as the song Led Me To You speaks of finding meaning and purpose through the journey. In the same way, I trust that the Spirit has led me to this land, to my prayers for Daniel, and to a deeper understanding that God’s path is always guiding me toward love and hope.
The devil said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him,
“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
charisms, vocations and ministries: “we were all baptized into one body […] and we were all
made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:13).
Then he took him up and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him,
“I shall give to you all this power and glory;
for it has been handed over to me,
and I may give it to whomever I wish.
All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It is written
You shall worship the Lord, your God,
and him alone shall you serve.”
Just as I Led 3 Lives follows a man navigating different identities, I, too, feel led through multiple roles—caretaker of the land, person of faith, and one praying fervently for Daniel. Through it all, I trust that the Spirit has led me with purpose, guiding me deeper into His plan.
Then he led him to Jerusalem,
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, for it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,
and:
With their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It also says,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time.
In all things, I pray that I’ll strive to be…
In order to continue providing employment, it is imperative to promote an economy which favours productive diversity and business creativity. For example, there is a great variety of small-scale food production systems which feed the greater part of the world’s peoples, using a modest amount of land and producing less waste, be it in small agricultural parcels, in orchards and gardens, hunting and wild harvesting or local fishing.
FROM PARAGRAPH 129 OF THE ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME