First Sunday of Lent

40 days of LentREADINGS

Reflect upon the Readings of Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Responsorial Psalm:91; Romans 10:8-13

REFLECTION

In Deuteronomy, there is a reminder from the Old Testament, where God has brought His Chosen people. “The Lord, God, brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders, and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.” And having set down the first fruits of these products of the soil before the Lord, you shall bow down in His Presence.

Psalm 91 gives us a universal prayer as we journey in Lent: “ Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble”.

The Second Reading of Romans centers us on the resources for Lent in the Word of God. What does Scripture say both, in your mouth and in your heart? For ,“if you confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ you will be saved”. One must also believe with the heart.

Later, the reading from Romans remind us that “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon Him. The inclusiveness of the call is for all.

The Gospel, according to Luke, reminds us of the encounter of Jesus with the devil as He goes to the desert to pray. The devil, knowing that Jesus is hungry from fasting, tempts Him by suggesting that He command this stone to turn to bread; the second temptation deals with power by showing Jesus kingdoms of the world, and having all the power and glory. The last temptation takes Jesus to Jerusalem to the parapet of the temple and the devil questions his Divinity by saying “if you are God, hurl yourself down, command the angels to guard and rescue you.” But Jesus answers, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test. With the devil trying every temptation, he departed from Jesus for a time.

PRAYER

O God, lead us this lent into the deserts
of our hearts.
Let these days be a time
of discernment and discovery,
of resolution and conversion
for each of us.
May your Words be our bread
during our wilderness journey;
may your light illuminate the treacherous
turns of the road we walk;
may your grace and wisdom minister
to us in our deserts of sadness and despair.

—Jay Cormier

TRY THIS TODAY

Find a quiet space and reflect for a little while, on this time of Lent. During this season of Lent we are called to practice both FASTING and FEASTING in order to bring about true conversion of heart.

CHANGE OUR HEARTS, O GOD! 

Prepared for the Ladies of Charity USA by Sr. Camille Cuadra, DC

 

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