Sunday, February 13, 2005
1st Sunday of Lent

1st Reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Tempted from the beginning

Then Yahweh God formed Man, dust drawn from the clay, and breathed into his nostrils a breath of life and Man became alive with breath. God planted a garden in Eden in the east and there he placed Man whom he had created. Yahweh God caused to grow from the ground every kind of tree that is pleasing to see and good to eat, also the tree of Life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Now the serpent was the most crafty of all the wild creatures that Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say: You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden, but of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden God said: You must not eat, and you must not touch it or you will die." The serpent said to the woman, "You will not die, but God knows that the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil."

The woman saw that the fruit was good to eat, and pleasant to the eyes, and ideal for gaining knowledge. She took its fruit and ate it and gave some to her husband who was with her. He ate it. Then their eyes were opened and both of them knew they were naked. So they sewed leaves of a fig tree together and made themselves loincloths.

2nd Reading: Romans 5:12-19
We are saved by the man Jesus Christ

Therefore, sin entered the world through one man and through sin, death, and later on death spread to all humankind, because all sinned. As long as there was no law, they could not speak of disobedience, but sin was already in the world. This is why from Adam to Moses death reigned among them, although their sin was not disobedience as in Adam's case - this was not the true Adam, but foretold the other who was to come.

Such has been the fall, but God's gift goes far beyond. All died because of the fault of one man, but how much more does the grace of God spread when the gift he granted reaches all, from this unique man Jesus Christ. Again, there is no comparison between the gift and the offense of one man. The disobedience that brought condemnation was of one sinner, whereas the grace of God brings forgiveness to a world of sinners. If death reigned through the disobedience of one and only one person, how much more will there be a reign of life for those who receive the grace and the gift of true righteousness through the one person, Jesus Christ.

Just as one transgression brought sentence of death to all, so, too, one man's good act has brought justification and light to all; and as the disobedience of only one made all sinners, so the obedience of one person allowed all to be made just and holy.

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus overcomes our temptations

At that time, the Spirit led Jesus into the desert that he be put to the test by the devil. After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry.
Then the devil came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, order these stones to turn into bread." But Jesus answered, "Scripture says: one does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city, set him on the highest wall of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for scripture says, God has given orders to his angels about you. Their hands will hold you up lest you hurt your foot against a stone." Jesus answered, "But scripture also says: You shall not put to the test the Lord your God."
Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the nations of the world in all their greatness and splendor. And he said, "All this I will give you, if you kneel and worship me." Then Jesus answered, "Be off, Satan! Scripture says: worship the Lord your God and serve him alone."
Then the devil left him, and angels came to serve him.

Commentary

WE have been made and live by the very breath of God and we are born with freedom of choice: we can choose life like God, or we can choose what leads to death and turn from God. It has been so from the beginning. We begin Lent knowing we must choose: to live in the freedom of the children of God, as we vowed at our baptisms, strengthened by the Word and will of God or we can choose to take care of ourselves first and foremost, make it according to the powers and evil rife in the world around us that hinders us all from living as God's children. And we can even use religion to protect us from becoming what we were born to be, using our relationship with God to fend off suffering and death which is part of being mortal, created by God or we can obey the Word of God, with Jesus, accepting and making holy even suffering and death, trusting that our God is the God of life who will be with us through all things. Father, give us your Spirit in the Word of Scripture so that we might obey, with Jesus and live our lives in your freedom of grace and truth, bringing your kingdom of justice and peace into our world. May this year 2005 be one of your grace and truth, not dominated by injustice, cruelty and what hinders your beloved children from your life.

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