The First Sunday in Lent, Feb. 29, 2004
Deut. 26:(1-4)5-11; Psalm 91 or 91:9-15; Rom. 10:(5-8a)8b-13; Luke 4:1-13
When we pray the opening phrase of the collect for the First Sunday in Lent, we are immediately reminded of the connection between our 40-day observance of this season of penitence and the 40-day fast of our Lord in the wilderness after his baptism in which he victoriously struggled against temptation. The Son of God “was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan.”
We who proclaim this same Son of God as our Lord are likewise led by the Spirit to struggle against the temptations to which we have succumbed, to turn from our sins, and to amend our lives to conform to the gracious will of God whom we prayerfully acknowledge is “mighty to save.” The readings appointed for this Sunday in Year C encourage reliance on this divine might to save.
The Old Testament lesson gives instruction for the offering of the first fruits of harvest. These were to be offered to God by the people of Israel in recognition of the saving deeds of the Lord who “brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs and wonders.” The good that the living God continues to do for his people evokes worship that expresses remembrance of his providential care in the past as well as thanks for present blessings received. Thus may be seen God’s constancy, his trustworthiness, his reliability.
In the verses from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, the apostle contrasts “the righteousness which is based on the law” with “the righteousness based on faith.” Faith from the heart is what inspires us to hope for salvation, even though in this penitential season we may be aware of how far we are from attaining any personal righteousness. The quotation from the prophet Joel that ends the passage encourages such hopeful faith. “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
In the account of the temptation of Jesus from the Gospel according to St. Luke, Jesus provides us with the example of utter commitment and reliance upon God. Twisting the words of scripture like a false preacher, the devil attacks the very identity of Christ proclaimed by the heavenly voice at his baptism: “Thou art my beloved Son.” The voice of temptation calls the faith of Jesus into question: “If you are the Son of God...” But Jesus knows on whom he relies to be sustained by more than “bread alone.” He remembers the promises of scripture that affirm that God alone is worthy of worship and service, and that our trust in him need not be put to test.
Look It Up
Read the brief account of the baptism and the temptation of Jesus in Mark 1:9-13. Reflect on the presence of ministering angels in the wilderness in addition to that of the tempter.
Think About It
If faith is a matter of the heart, how might our Lenten observance involve practices that move us to deeper belief?
Next Sunday
The Second Sunday in Lent, March 7, 2004
Gen. 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27 or 27:10-18; Phil. 37-4:1; Luke 13: (22-30)31-35
