First Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the First Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are Deuteronomy 26:4-10, Romans 10:8-13, and Luke 4:1-13. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 91 (Psalm 91:1-2, 10-15).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 91 Be with me Lord when I am in trouble

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."

Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live on bread alone.'"

Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, "I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me."

Jesus said to him in reply, "It is written: 'You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.'"

Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' and: 'With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus said to him in reply, "It also says, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"

When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: First Sunday of Lent (February 14, 2016)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: First Sunday of Lent (February 14, 2016)

Community in Mission: But at Your Command I Will Lower the Nets – A Homily for the 5th Sunday of the Year (13 FEB 16)

Aleteia: Deacon Greg Kandra: What We Give Up: Homily for February 14, 2016, 1st Sunday of Lent (13 FEB 16)

The Sacred Page: Lent as Spiritual Warfare: 1st Sunday of Lent (11 FEB 16)

Be as One: Learning from temptation - Gospel reflection by Father Steven LaBaire (13 FEB 16)

Word on Fire: Three Questions from the Desert (Cycle C * Lent * Week 1)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology: Forty Days: Scott Hahn Reflects on the First Sunday in Lent (8 FEB 16)

The Dispatch: Temptation in the Desert and the Divinity of Christ (14 FEB 16)

Spirituality of the Readings: You Are My Beloved (First Sunday of Lent C)

Let the Scriptures Speak: The Testing of Jesus (and Israel and Us) (First Sunday of Lent C)

The Word Embodied: Temptations (First Sunday of Lent C)

Historical Cultural Context: The Devil Made Me Do It! (First Sunday of Lent C)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by John Chrysostom (First Sunday of Lent C)

Word to Life Radio Broadcast: First Sunday of Lent (13 FEB 16)