Keep Going—Don’t Stop
On the first Sunday of Lent, the Gospel of Luke 4:1-11 reminded me of a moment from my childhood…
One day, my grandmother wanted to prepare a dessert for my uncle and me. She asked us to go to the store to buy the ingredients. Happily, we accepted the task. On our way, we passed by a volleyball court where some friends were playing. They invited us to join them, and without much thought, we accepted. One game led to another, and before we knew it, nearly three hours had passed. Alarmed, we ran to the store, but it was too late—it was closed. Unfortunately, it was the only store in town. Carrying the weight of our remorse, we returned home in silence.
Through tears, we confessed to my grandmother what had happened, regretting that we had failed in our mission. She looked at us and, in a soft, calm voice, said, “You fell into temptation.”
At the time, I didn’t understand her words; I only knew that we had missed out on a delicious treat.
When I recently heard Luke’s account, I finally understood what my grandmother’s words meant. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, but He never allowed distractions to turn Him away from the mission His Father had entrusted to Him. He knew His goal, and He knew that temptation sought only to lead Him astray.
We all go through spiritual deserts—moments of dryness, doubt, and temptation, when we feel the urge to drift away from God’s purpose for us. Sometimes, these distractions don’t seem bad at first glance; they may even appear fun or appealing, just as they did for my uncle and me. Yet, that’s the deception: the desert is not only empty and painful, it can also offer false illusions of happiness.
If you feel like you are in a spiritual desert today, don’t be deceived. God is still with you. Keep walking, keep praying, and keep trusting. “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
If we hadn’t gone off course, today I would be telling you how delicious my grandmother’s dessert was. Don’t let the temptations of your desert keep you from the feast that has been prepared for you, your family, and your friends. Keep going—don’t stop—and you will see how wonderful God’s blessings truly are.
Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Deacon Franklin came to know Christ as a child thanks to his grandfather, Nicasio Mejía. Nicasio introduced Franklin to the spiritual life and the doctrine of the Catholic faith. Because of this, Franklin was a very active member of the Salesian youth groups in his community from a very young age and, as he grew older, he received training to become a youth leader.
Upon arriving in the United States, Franklin worked for the Hispanic Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of Boston organizing sports tournaments, youth leadership training programs, and an outreach ministry dedicated to visiting youth in prison. Deacon Franklin’s passion for evangelization led him to Catholic Television, where he was the host and producer of “Good News.” His desire to evangelize through the media was inspired by Pope John Paul II, who encouraged the Church to use all media to present Christ to others.
Ordained in 2014, Deacon Franklin was assigned to Sacred Hearts Parish in Malden and he continues his work at the Catholic Television Network, Boston in charge of the production of The Holy Mass.
He has been happily married to his wife, Wendy, for 18 years and they are the proud parents of Gabriel Andres, 17 and Isabella María, 13.
