1st Sunday of LentDeuteronomy 26:4-10 Romans 10;8-13 Luke 4;1-13 The Gospel this weekend is this:
Lk 4:1-13. Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'" 5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, "I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me." 8 Jesus said to him in reply, "It is written: 'You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.'" 9 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, 10 for it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' 11 and: 'With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus said to him in reply, "It also says, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'" 13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time. - The first reading is this: Deut 26:4-10. The priest shall then receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the LORD, your God, 'My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien. But there he became a nation great, strong and numerous. 6 When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing hard labor upon us, 7 we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and he heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil and our oppression. 8 He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; 9 and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. 10 Therefore, I have now brought you the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, O LORD, have given me.' And having set them before the LORD, your God, you shall bow down in his presence. - The second reading is this: Rom 10:8-13. But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we preach), 9 for, if you confess * with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 For the scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - MEDITATION: This Sunday is the first of the five Sundays of Lent. Then comes Palm Sunday. Easter this year will be on March 31st. Lent is derived from today's Gospel which tells of how Jesus spends forty days in the desert dealing with Satan - 'the tempter'. That's someone with whom we all have to deal, so Jesus shows the way: Don't even enter into discussion with his proposals, but 'knock him out' with a disciplined heart and the straight-forward guidance of God's Word - "It is written". The world is full of temptations like animal traps. They have something that attracts the creature to come up close, then 'WHAM!'. The offer of turning stones into bread represents how the 'divil' offers a pleasant satisfaction of bodily desires - "eat, drink and be merry" plus, plus, plus!. The offer of having the rule over many nations represents man's desire for personal power over others. The offer of jumping from the roof like 'superman' with angels to prevent you getting injured represents expecting God to do marvels for us and to prevent all problems. All three represent the many, many different temptations that we all face, and the fact that they can be resisted! It says that Jesus went to spend forty days in that 'desert', but that wasn't just a small 'phase' of his life. The number 40 represents 'totality' to the Jews in the Bible, and the 40 days don't represent a period of time but a constant internal attitude of Jesus. It's an eternal attitude of our God. He chooses love always. And he asks us to choose along with Him. Maybe we have done so before, but challenges come our way, and lent is a time to renew our choice. It's interesting how it gives importance to scripture. The tempter quotes it and Jesus replies by quoting it too. Jesus doesn't enter into discussions about the subjects, but just keeps quoting. It's a good approval for being 'Verbum Dei' ('Word of God'), but it also shows how the Bible can be manipulated and badly quoted to justify mistakes! But Jesus replies to Saten all three times by quoting scripture, and that's why the second reading is from Romans 10:9: 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved...'. By the way, the name for 'Lent' comes from an old word for 'regrowth' - as in springtime. There's a reason for being forty days. In Jewish culture, the quantity 40 represented totality. In other words, the way of life of Jesus during 40 days in the desert represents a constant way of life throughout his whole lifespan. The flood in Genesis 7 was actually formed in 40 days. I suppose it may represent the fact that the challenges of evil are an inherent part of human life and God provides a way through! To quote Moses preaching to the Jews in Deuteronomy 9: "For forty days and forty nights, I lay prostrate before the LORD, because he had threatened to destroy you. 26 This was my prayer to him: O Lord GOD, destroy not your people... Look not upon their stubbornness nor upon their wickedness and sin...'. The whole journey from Egypt to the 'promised land' took 40 years. On Mt Sinai in Exodus 24, Moses spent 40 days up the mountain and recieved the writing from heaven. The flight of Elijah from persecution in 1 Kings 19 took 40 days. In the book of Jonah, the city of Nineveh is actually given 40 days to repent, and they did. 'When the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth... 10 When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he did not carry out the punishment' (Jonah 3:1-10). 'Elijah got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain ofGod (1 K 19:8). Christ makes it clear how important it is to give the Word of God (the Bible) a prominent place in our minds. He replies to Satan all three times by quoting scripture. I like to quote scripture, but the big difference is that Jesus was totally faithful in putting God's Word into practice. I want to follow him. In fact, the Bible describes his incarnation as the Word of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us (Jn 1:1-2). It's important for us to humbly remind ourselves that we need to be saved! God invites us all, but He won't impose. He won't impose on the proud people who reckon that they have life all arranged and under control for themselves. The gift of Life is much more than may seem, and Jesus went all the way toCalvary in order to convince us and to reveal the Resurrection. The superficial propaganda of this commercial world often 'captivates' people. The first reading of Deuteronomy today describes how the Jews recalled their exodus from captivity in Egypt, and they gave thanks to God for it by offering symbolic gifts. The offertory procession of our masses has a history! Of course, while symbols and prayers and personal sacrifices are good, Jesus gave priority to the challenges of loving and helping others. Prayers and personal testimony do help, but we shouldn't forget to give people physical help also. Symbolically speaking, "if you give bread to the hungry, then your 'Easter Egg' will taste good!". So in the basket of the offertory at mass, we place our own selves! The training of Lent in self discipline reminds me of the difficult training for rugby as a teenager. It wasn't pleasant in itself, but it was pleasant to end up physically fit for the matches. It's strange to be writing this now from a wheelchair! But the match is still going on for me. We may wonder why do physical limitations await us all - even death itself? One reason that convinces me is that it makes us make the effort to grow up to the everlasting Easter! Being faithful to God brings challenges, but Jesus himself leads the way. A good rugby trainer gets his players to train hard, and he shouts instructions from the sidelines as players run around, but it's even better if he goes through the struggle of training along with them. Jesus certainly went through the struggle ahead of us 2000 years ago. And he comes with us today. That's so that his Easter victory can be ours too. The gospel about the temptations is like a call to kick the 'divil' in the pants, but the amazing thing is that Jesus ends up letting himself get kicked in the pants by mankind. He was hungry in the desert and thirsty on Calvary, but it was so that the Pascal mystery would be for real. Let's die to our selfishness for lent so that Easter will be for real in us! By the way, the first Sunday of Lent has traditionally been the time to announce the new Christians who will be baptised at the Easter vigil (catechumens). The name catechumen actually comes from the word catechism which means teaching by question and answer as in the Socratic method. Now it is chiefly as a means of instructing children in the basics of the Christian creed. A person being instructed in this way in preparation for baptism or confirmation is called a catechumen. The five weeks of Lent were for their preparation. Hopefully we will be prepared to renew our baptismal promises on the Easter vigil. So let's make this Lent a time to renew our determination to reject evil and to choose Christ. We can all be 'renewed' Christians! St Teresa of Avila used to say that while self examination is good, it shouldn't take precedence over adoring God. That's what really renews us. So, while it's good to be aware of our faults in Lent, remember that Easter is coming and we should also keep reminding ourselves of the marvellous merciful love of God! ............Dara - - En ESPAÑOL: - 1° Domingo de Cuaresma: Deut 26:4-10. Rom 10:8-13. Lc 4:1-13. Este Domingo es el primero de los cinco de Cuaresma (llegando al domingo de Ramos).La Pascua este año será el día 31º de Marzo. Cuaresma viene del Evangelio de hoy que es de Jesús pasando cuarenta días en el desierto y aguantando a Satanás – 'el tentador'. Este es alguien a quien tenemos que aguantar todos, entonces Jesús nos muestra cómo. Ni siquiera entra en discusión con sus proposiciones, sino que le cierra la puerta con un corazón disciplinado y la guía clara de la Palabra de Dios – “Está escrito…”. Hay muchas tentaciones en el mundo como trampas para animales. Tienen algo que atrae a la criatura y la hace acercar y 'WAM'! La oferta de cambiar las piedras en pan representa como el 'chamuco' ofrece satisfacer los deseos corporales. La oferta del poder sobre muchas naciones representa el orgullo del hombre que quiere ser jefe sobre los demás. La oferta de saltar del techo como 'Superman' con el apoyo de Ángeles, representa como uno supone que Dios nos hará maravillas y nos quitará todo problema. Cada tentación representa a los muchos, muchos desafíos que nos desafían a todos, ¡y también al hecho de que se puede superarlos bien. Dice hoy que Jesús pasó cuarenta días en aquel 'desierto', pero esto no es una pequeña fase de su vida. El número 40 en la Bibliasignifica 'la totalidad', y los 40 días no representan un período de tiempo, sino una actitud interior constante de Jesús. Es una actitud eterna de nuestro Dios. Siempre opta por amar. Y nos pide optar juntos con Él. Quizás hemos optado antes, pero nos vienen desafíos y la cuaresma es un tiempo para renovar nuestra opción. Es interesante como da importancia a la Escritura. El tentador la cita y Jesús responde citándola también. Jesús no empieza conversaciones nuevas sobre las tentaciones sino sigue citando. Es una animación para ser 'Verbum Dei' ('Palabra de Dios'), pero muestra también como se puede manipular la Biblia y citarla para justificar errores. Pero Jesús responde a Satanás cada vez citando la escritura, y por eso la segunda lectura del Domingo es de Romanos 10:9: 'Tenéis la palabra cerca, en la boca y en el corazón, porque si confesáis que Jesús es Señor y creéis en el corazón que Dios le resucitó de los muertos, seréis salvados…'. Hay un porque de los 40 días. En la cultura Judía, la cantidad 40 representaba 'una totalidad'. Entonces la forma de vida de Jesús durante los 40 días representa su forma de ser durante toda su vida. De hecho el diluvio duro 40 días en Génesis 7. Quizás, el diluvio representa cómo los desafíos del mal son una parte inherente de la vida humana - y Dios provee un camino para cruzarlos. Para citar a Moisés predicando al pueblo en Deuteronomio 9: “Durante cuarenta días yo estaba postrado pidiendo al Señor perdonaros y no destruiros…”. El viaje desde Egipto hasta 'la tierra prometida' duró 40 años y en Éxodo 24, Moisés estuvo 40 días en el Monte Sinaí recibiendo de Dios las tablas de la ley. La huida de Elías de la persecución en 1° Reyes 19 duró 40 días. En el libro de Jonás, en el Antiguo Testamento, se da 40 días a la ciudad de Nínive para convertirse, y lo hicieron. 'Cuando el pueblo de Nínive empezó a creer a Dios, hicieron ayuno y se vestían de saco… Cuando Dios les vio cambiar sus maldades, decidió quitar la pena' (Jonás 3:1-10). 'Elías se levantó, comió y bebió; y fortalecido por la comida, caminó durante 40 días hacia el monte del Señor (1°Reyes 19:8). Cristo clarifica la importancia de saber la Palabra en la Biblia. Responde a Satanás las tres veces citando la escritura. Me gusta a mí citar la Biblia también, pero la gran diferencia es que Jesús era totalmente fiel en poner las Palabra de Dios en práctica. Le quiero seguir. De hecho, él es la Palabra. El Evangelio de Juan describe su encarnación así: 'La Palabrade Dios se encarnó y habitó entre nosotros' (Jn 1:1-2). ¡Es importante reconocer humildemente que necesitamos ser salvados! Dios nos invita a todos, pero no se impone. No impone a los orgullosos que piensan que tienen todo bajo control por su cuenta. El don de la vida es mucho más de lo que parece, y Jesús fue hasta el Calvario para convencernos y para revelar la Resurrección. Muchas veces la propaganda superficial de este mundo comercial cautiva a la gente. El cautiverio de Egipto puede que lo simbolice. La primera lectura de hoy de Deuteronomio describe como los Judíos recordaban su éxodo del cautiverio en Egipto y dan gracias a Dios por ello, ofreciendo pequeños dones simbólicos. ¡El ofertorio de nuestras misas tiene historia! Claro, aunque los símbolos y oraciones y sacrificios personales son buenos, Jesús dio prioridad a los desafíos de amar y ayudar a otros. Oraciones y testimonio personal ayudan, pero no deberíamos olvidar de dar ayuda física también. Simbólicamente hablando: “¡Si das pan al hambriento, tu huevo pascual tendrá buen sabor!”. Entonces en el ofertorio de la misa, ¡ofrezcámonos a nosotros mismos - nuestras vidas enteras! El entrenarse en la disciplina personal me recuerda el entrenamiento de mi juventud en el rugby. No era agradable al principio, pero era gozoso estar en buena forma para los partidos. (¡Parece extraño estar escribiendo esto desde una silla de ruedas!). Pero 'el partido' sigue para mí. Quizás te preguntas: ¿Por qué nos esperan limitaciones físicas a todos – aún la muerte? ¡Porque nos motiva a poner esfuerzo en llegar a la Pascua eterna! Ser fieles a Dios nos trae desafíos, pero Jesús mismo muestra el camino. Un entrenador de rugby grita instrucciones a sus jugadores desde los lados mientras ellos corren, pero es aún mejor cuando va corriendo delante de ellos. Jesús fue delante de nosotros hace 2000 años, y va junto a nosotros hoy. Es para que nos logremos estar todos con Él en su victoria Pascual. El Evangelio de las tentaciones es como una llamada a dar al demonio patadas en el trasero, y lo impresionante es que Jesús mismo acaba dejándose golpear por la humanidad. Tiene hambre en el desierto hoy y sed en el Calvario, pero es para cumplir la maravilla de la Pascua.¡Muramos a nosotros egoísmo en la Cuaresma, para que nuestra Pascua sea de verdad! De hecho también, el primer Domingo dela Cuaresma ha sido tradicionalmente la ocasión para nombrar a los nuevos cristianos que iban a estar bautizados en la vigilia Pascual (los catecúmenos). El nombre 'catecumen' viene de la palabra 'catecismo' que significa la enseñanza por preguntas y respuestas como en el método Socrático. Ahora es, más que nada, la forma de instruir a los jóvenes sobre las cosas fundamentales del credo Cristiano. Una persona en preparación así para el bautismo o para la confirmación es llamada 'catecúmeno'. Las cinco semanas de cuaresma eran para su preparación. Ojalá estemos preparados nosotros para renovar nuestras promesas bautismales en la vigilia Pascual. Entonces, hagamos de esta cuaresma un tiempo para renovar nuestra determinación a rechazar el mal y a optar por Cristo. ¡Podremos ser todos cristianos 'renovados'! Santa Teresa de Ávila decía que aunque el examen personal está bien, la adoración a Dios es aún más importante. Esto es lo que realmente nos 'renueva'. Entonces, ¡mientras nos acordamos de nuestras faltas en la cuaresma, deberíamos también recordar que la Pascua va llegar y seguir acordándonos del amor misericordioso maravilloso de Dios!
Christy Maloney
3/3/2013 08:07:00 pm
Hi Dara. Still fighting the good fight I see. Maith thú. Comments are closed.
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