Reflections on the readings for the First Sunday of Lent (March 1, 2020): GN 2:7-9; 3:1-7; PS 51:3-4,5-6,12-13,17; ROM 5:12-19; MT 4:1-11
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
In the Gospel for this first Sunday of Lent, Jesus shows us His way of life, goodness, and holiness.
On this First Sunday of Lent, the Gospel reveals Jesus at a time when we see Him at His most human while also recognizing Him as the Son of God. Near the beginning of His public ministry and after His own baptism, Christ goes into the desert. There He fasts and prays for forty days. Then the devil comes to entice Christ by trying to get Him to prove that He is indeed the Son of God. “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’” (Matthew 4:3-4). Jesus’ response was completely unlike that of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden that God had created for them or the people of Israel as they wandered through the desert after God saved them from slavery in Egypt.
Our Lord chose the will of His Father rather than the self-centeredness that led those others – and us – to sin. He glorified His Father by putting His loving plan for the world ahead of any personal wishes, whether from physical desire, pride, greed or anything else. Through the gift of baptism that comes to us through the sacrifice of Christ’s passion and death, we, too, are able to turn away from sin and to choose to be faithful children of the Almighty. We have to accept the fact that we will face temptations every day. Some may be fairly easy to avoid, while others cause us unexpected pain and struggle. But our Savior will always be with us. He shows us His way of life, goodness, and holiness, if only we entrust ourselves to His immeasurable mercy.