13 March 2011

First Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the First Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; and Matthew 4:1-11. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 51 (Psalm 51: 3-6, 12-13, 17).

The Gospel reading is as follows:

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, "’You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’”

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Reflections on these readings:

The Deacon's Bench: Homily for March 13, 2011: 1st Sunday of Lent (12 MAR 11)

The Word Embodied: Unmasking the Great Deception

Msgr. Charles Pope: Tackle Temptation or Risk Ruination – A Reflection on the Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent

The Quiet Corner: Jesus is mankind’s enduring example of perfect ‘sonship’ (10 MAR 11)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary: Gregory Nazianzen

YouTube: Living Lent: The First Sunday - Cardinal Rigali

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