"One does not live on bread alone,but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
– Matthew 4:4
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When I transferred to Boston College, I was excited to begin something new, but I also felt quietly overwhelmed. I was stepping into a community where friendships already existed, routines were already formed, and everyone seemed to know where they belonged. Beneath the surface, there was a real fear of rejection and a lingering anxiety about having to rebuild a sense of home from scratch. In that moment, the most tempting response was comfort by keeping to myself, staying in familiar spaces, and avoiding the vulnerability that comes with putting yourself out there. Withdrawing felt safe. It required less risk, less exposure, and less possibility of disappointment. But I slowly realized that comfort was also limiting me. If I wanted to truly grow and make the most of my time at BC, I had to choose engagement over isolation: to introduce myself, join conversations, learn the campus, and trust that I had a place here even before it felt certain. Those choices weren’t always easy, but they were necessary.
Reflecting on this experience, I’m reminded that temptation often doesn’t look like something obviously wrong. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is tempted not with evil, but with reasonable, self-protective alternatives. Lent invites us to notice where we are tempted to retreat into comfort rather than step into growth. Sometimes, the desert is simply an unfamiliar place where we are asked to trust, to show up, and to become more fully who we are called to be. As we move through Lent, where might we be tempted to choose comfort over growth, and what would it look like to step forward in trust instead?
Dani Chahine is a junior at Boston College studying Finance and Accounting. He is involved in the Ever to Excel Summer Program, the Young Catholic Leader Program, the Student Admissions Program, and the Real Estate Club.
Learn more about C21 Living Lent here.