1st Sunday of Lent (Cycle A, Yr. I)
Community Word: Disciples of Christ are called to be the salt and the light of the earth.
Theme: We are the salt and the light of the earth when we overcome all occasions of sin by praying, fasting and standing on God’s word.
Promise: “…through the obedience of the One, the many will be made righteous.” (Rom 5:19b)
Reflection
Why do we find ourselves going to confession asking for forgiveness for the same offenses we commit over and over again? It seems difficult to shake off the compulsion to commit those habitual sins. The 2nd reading from Romans 5:14 sums it up, “But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam.” Sin is an affliction that we inherited from Adam, staining each of us from the very start of creation. “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners…” (Rom 5:19). There is only one exception, our Blessed Mother who was “exempt from all stain of original sin” (Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of 8 December, 1854).
Sin often starts as an offer of some good or pleasure that is dangled before us by Satan, the father of all lies. In the first reading, Eve was entrapped with a major deception, “But the serpent said to the woman: You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods…,” (Gen 3:4). This was of course a big lie and yet the temptation was too great for Eve to resist, and she succumbed to it, dragging her husband Adam along with her. It is hard to believe that a small fruit, albeit “pleasing to the eyes and desirable,” could cause such havoc and permit the entry of original sin into the world, causing the downfall of mankind.
With the observance of Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent officially starts. It is that time of year when we need to quietly reflect on the state of our spiritual journey to eternal salvation. The Responsorial Psalm provides an excellent reflection prayer that we can recite often for this purpose. They say the first step in the treatment of any kind of addiction is an admission of one’s guilt. “For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always,” (Ps 51:5). This is followed by a plea for forgiveness, “Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me,” (Ps 51:4). If anyone were to make a thorough and a true confession, Lent is the best time to do so. The 2nd of the 5 Precepts of the Catholic Church states, “You shall confess your sins at least once a year,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church -Precepts #2041-3). The Psalm concludes with a prayer of restoration and hope, as it reads, “Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me,” (Ps 51:14).
Lent is traditionally a season of penance. It is made up of three ‘pillars’, namely, prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As followers of Christ, we are called not just to abstain from sin but to undergo a true conversion of heart and mind. We fast in memory of Jesus’ forty days’ fast in the desert. Fasting gives us the spiritual strength to resist temptations and the grace we need to overcome our sinful tendencies. In the Gospel, Jesus Himself undergoes three temptations shrewdly packaged by Satan at a time when our Lord could have been most vulnerable, having just completed a forty day fast. But even as He was tempted and struggled with the forces of evil, Jesus was unyielding. He remained firm and rebuked the devil saying, “Away with you, Satan!” (Mt. 4:10).
What is most striking about the Gospel is the power of the Word which Jesus Himself uses to fend off Satan’s temptations. In all three – offers of security, honor and power – Jesus responds by quoting passages from the Book of Deuteronomy. We too can be ready to confront temptation and guard ourselves against evil, by believing and invoking the promises of the Lord in Scripture. This is our theme for the week – We are the salt and the light of the earth when we overcome all occasions of sin by praying, fasting and standing on God’s word. When we proclaim God’s word, we can face temptations with confidence and assurance that we will not fall; rather, be victorious over sin. Our conviction comes from knowing that Jesus died for us and saved us from death through His resurrection. This is our promise for the week, “…through the obedience of one man… many will be made righteous.” (Rom 5:19)
Prayer:
Lord, as we start the Lenten season, may we reflect on the things that have caused us to commit sin and ask for the grace to overcome temptations that constantly beset us. May we undergo true conversion and change of heart this Lent as we offer ourselves to You through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Give us the courage and determination to rebuke the devil using Your holy words, whenever we are tempted by his malicious entrapments. Amen.
Reflection Guide Questions:
- Are you struggling with habitual sins? How do you fight the temptations that cause you to sin?
- How do you plan to prepare yourself for the observance of the Lent, so that it will be a meaningful period to reflect on your true conversion to holiness?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 26, 2023 (Sun) – Gn 2:7-9, 3:1-7/Ps 51:3-6, 12, 13, 17/Rom 5:12-19/Mt 4:1-11
February 27, 2023 (Mon) – Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15/Mt 25:31-46
February 28, 2023 (Tues) – Is 55:10-11/Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16, 17, 18, 19/Mt 6:7-15
March 1, 2023 (Wed) – Jon 3:1-10/Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19/Lk 11:29-32
March 2, 2023 (Thur) – Est C 4:12-16, 23-25/Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 7-8/Mt 7:7-12
March 3, 2023 (Fri) – Ez 18:11-28/Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 4-6, 7-8/Mt 5:20-26
March 4, 2023 (Sat) – Dt 26:16-19/Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8/Mt 5:43-48
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
