1sth Sunday of Lent (Cycle C, Year I)
Community Word: As disciples of Christ, we are called to proclaim God’s word.
Theme: We proclaim God’s word when we worship Him and Him alone.
Promise: “I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.” (Ps 91:14)
Reflection:
Ushered in by Ash Wednesday on February 13, the liturgical season of Lent starts early this year. In keeping with traditional practice, we are invited to reflect on our lives as disciples of Jesus and members of Bukas Loob Sa Diyos, repent of our sins, and spend time in prayer, penance and self-denial in memory of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert where he resisted the temptations of Satan.
St.Luke’s gospel describes the three temptations endured by Jesus in the reading for the 1st Sunday of Lent, which recounts the story of Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the desert. Having eaten nothing since starting His fast, Jesus is hungry, and the devil tempts Him by offering to turn stone into bread to assuage his hunger. Failing to tempt Jesus through his physical hunger, the devil then tempts Jesus with political power and an earthly kingdom. Finally, the devil challenges Jesus to jump from the top of the temple, reminding Him that God will send his angels to protect Him, lest He dash his foot against a stone. Jesus resists all three temptations by turning to the word of God.
We too are confronted with countless obstacles and temptations during our life’s journey. Our physical bodies, hungry for the comforts and pleasures of earthly life, begrudge curtailment of these worldly gratifications. Like Jesus, we can use the word of God to fend off temptations. The Word for our community this month of February is: As disciples of Christ, we are called to proclaim God’s word.
Temptations and the tempter never leave us completely during our lifetime, dangling the allure of power, wealth, and worldly pleasures to tempt us to stray from the right path. Whether as committed, covenant disciples or regular members of BLD, we encounter many enticements throughout our earthly existance that constantly threaten to rob us of our special place as children of God.
Temptations come in various forms, and when we least expect them. Life in community is not a guarantee of immunity from temptation. One of the most common forms to which we are heir is the lure of self-imposed sabbatical leave from community for one reason or another. “We have no more time for our children,” says one mother. “My business is suffering because I’m not able to focus anymore,” says an entrepreneur, while a newly promoted employee might say, “I was just promoted and need to concentrate on my new responsibilities”. The word of God in Mat 6:33 declares, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these will be given you besides.”
Another common temptation in community life is to withhold part of our treasure that should otherwise be offered as tithe. “Lord, can I keep part of it for now because I have an urgent need for my children or for my business.” The word of God declares, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house, and try me in this, says the Lord of hosts, Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure.” (Mal 3:10). We unite ourselves with Jesus whenever we are faced with temptations. Like Him, we use the Word of God to counter the devil’s temptation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 540 states, “By the forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.” Prayer plays an important part too in resisting temptation as stated In CCC 2849, “Such a battle and such a victory become possible only through prayer. It is by prayer that Jesus vanquishes the tempter, both at the outset of his public mission and in the ultimate struggle of his agony.” Every time we succeed in resisting a temptation that masquerates as something desirable, it is a victory over the evil one. It is a pledge of allegiance to the Lord as our God above all else. This is our theme for this week: We proclaim God’s word when we worship Him and Him alone. No one ever said that following Jesus would be easy. But along with it is a beautiful promise: “I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.” (Ps 91:14)
Prayer:
Lord, as we begin the observance of Lent, we humbly bow before You and beg for Your mercy. We are truly sorry for all the sins we have committed, thereby offending You, our God, who are good and deserving of all our love. We repent of our attachment to and mad rush after pleasure and power that rob us of time that should be devoted to what really matters, the attainment of eternal life. We thank you for granting us the grace to overcome the temptations and wrong inclinations that come our way. We firmly resolve to do penance, atone for our sins and to amend our life. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen
Reflection Questions:
1.What is the one offense against the Lord that we pray never to commit again, out of our love for the one true God whom we worship and adore?
2.How do you intend to keep away from the temptations that frequently come our way?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 17, 2013 (Sun) Dt 26:4-10/Ps 91:1,2,10-15/Rom 10:8-13/
Lk 4:1-13
February 18, 2013 (Mon) Lv 19:1,2,11-18/Ps 19:9,10,15/Mt 25:31-46
February 19, 2013 (Tues) Is 55:10-11/Ps 34:5-7,16-19/Mt 6:7-15
February 20, 2013 (Wed) Jn 3:1-10/Ps 51:3,4,12,13,18,19/Lk 11:29-32
February 21, 2013 (Thur) Est C:12,14-16,23-25/Ps 138:1-2AB,2CDE-3,
7C-8/Mt 7:7-12
February 22, 2013 (Fri) 1Pt 5:1-4/Ps 23:1-3A,4-6/Mt 16:13-19
February 23, 2013 (Sat) Dt 26:16-/Ps 119:1,2,5-8/Mt 5:43-48
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
