March 9, 2014: First Sunday of Lent

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen, “

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.
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.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

Jesus answered him, “Again it is written,
you shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”

At this, Jesus said to him,
“Get away, Satan! It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and God alone shall you serve.”

Then the devil left Jesus and, behold,
angels came and ministered to him. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Reflection

This Gospel passage plays out in our everyday lives.
We may be tempted to over-emphasize material goods (living for bread alone). We may put our health at risk with substance abuse and think that nothing will happen (and then blame God when it does). We may “worship” money or comfort or pleasure (instead of serving God alone).

Action

This week daily say the Our Father, slowly and deliberately, with this Gospel passage in mind.