Tag: Lent

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Fourth Sunday of Lent 2020

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Mass Readings

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First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A
Responsorial: Psalm 23: 1-3A, 3B-6
Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel: John 9:1-41

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032220.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

These are strange times, to be sure! But my brothers and sisters, I have Good News! Jesus tells us in the Gospel, “I am in the light of the world,” (John 9:5). That is such an important message for us all to hear and to believe. And it is an important message for us to share.

Someone you know right now is a healthcare worker, or a police officer or in the national guard or some other person vital to helping us get through this crisis, like people who work at power plants, sanitation workers, employees at grocery stores, pharmacies, cell phone companies, even online entertainment streaming companies. It’s so easy to be overcome by news about the virus or about the economy, especially for people who put their faith in the world.

But my brothers and sisters, we are saved only by Jesus Christ. There are people out there right now who are nervous or frightened. But Christian disciples – those who are born anew through the waters of baptism and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are called to bear witness to the truth.

As St. Paul tells us today, we need to live as children of the light, (Ephesians, 5:8). We need to share the light of Jesus Christ with others and we need to care of our Christian communities.

What does that mean? Let’s talk through some practical discipleship, in no particular order.

First, if you know someone who works in healthcare, law enforcement, the national guard, or some other employee who is required to work right now, reach out to them. They may not be able to receive a call, but maybe send them a text message or if you can, mail them a card. Let them know you are praying for them, and as one of my friends in the UK says, let them know how bloody marvelous they are!

Second, check on your family and friends – especially anyone you know who lives alone. Stay connected. Sure, messenger apps are fine, but actually try to call. Talk to encourage each other and find out if there is anything they need. It’s totally possible to help. An expat friend living in Ireland was able to reach out to a grocery store in the States and arrange for a grocery order and delivery to an elderly relative. Technology gives us so many creative opportunities to help one another. Don’t underestimate how you can help.

For those who can venture out, asking your friends, especially those who live alone and might be at higher risk, if you can pick up something for them while you’re out is a huge help! Even a book of crossword puzzles can really help lift spirits.

And one of the final things you can do, don’t forget about your Christian community – the physical building that is the anchor of our Christian communities. Regardless of the situation, you’ve got to keep the lights on – you’ve got to pay the bills. So please, if you can, send your regular contribution to your local church. They really need the money to help keep the doors so that when this crisis is over, we can all come back together.

We are Christian and if there ever was a time to show your love for others, it’s now.

Like the old Christian hymn says, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love!”

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by an act of Spiritual Communion, I ask you to reflect on the following two questions:

  1. The blind man went and washed, and came back able to see. How can I be more attentive to the needs of those around me?
  2. He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshipped him. How can I dedicate more time to prayer, worship and service?

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! Y’all stay safe and flatten the curve! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:

  1. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
  2. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015.
  3. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
  4. Williamson, Peter S. Ephesians. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2009.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Christ the light of the nations, 280, 529, 748, 1165, 2466, 2715
  2. Original Sin, 396-406
  3. Jesus is the Son of David, 439, 496, 559, 2616
  4. Christians are to be light of the world, 782, 1243, 2105
  5. Witnessing to the truth, 905, 909, 2044, 2471-73
  6. Liturgical signs and symbols, 1145-52
  7. Baptism is illumination, 1216
  8. Forgiveness of sins, 1229-33
  9. Punishments of sin, 1263-64
  10. Christian initiation, 1472-73
  11. Various kinds of sin, 1852
  12. Mortal sin, 1861
  13. Idolatry, 2113
  14. Covetousness as impurity and as greed, 2514-15; 2534-38
  15. The pure in heart, 2518-19
  16. Modesty, 2521-22
  17. Greed, 2535-38

Fourth Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 31
Mass Readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032220.cfm

First Reading
1 Samuel 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A
The LORD said to Samuel:
“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”

As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,
Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed David in the presence of his brothers;
and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.

Responsorial
Psalm 23: 1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6.
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading
Ephesians 5:8-14
Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

Verse Before The Gospel
John 8:12
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Gospel
John 9:1-41
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
He replied,
“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’
So I went there and washed and was able to see.”
And they said to him, “Where is he?”

He said, “I don’t know.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”

Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?”
His parents answered and said,
“We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
“He is of age; question him.”

So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, “Give God the praise!
We know that this man is a sinner.”
He replied,
“If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”
So they said to him,
“What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them,
“I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?

Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
They ridiculed him and said,
“You are that man’s disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from.”
The man answered and said to them,
“This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
He answered and said,
“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him,
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
“I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind.”

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Jesus said to them,
“If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

or
Jn 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”

They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
He answered and said,
“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him, and
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.

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Third Sunday of Lent 2020

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Mass Readings

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First Reading: Exodus 17:3-7
Responsorial: Psalm 95
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
Gospel: John 4:5-42

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031520.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

I hope this message finds you in good health and strong in the Spirit! It seems like all we hear about is the Corona Virus. I’m recovering from a cold and I found myself having difficulty sorting through all the “official information” just to find an accurate list of the Corona Virus symptoms. There’s almost too much information and of course tons of misinformation out there. It’s almost overwhelming enough to join the Israelites fleeing Egypt yell, “Is the Lord in our midst or not?” (Exodus 17:7).

But my brothers and sisters, I have Good News! Jesus offers us Living Water – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit – the ultimate of the spiritual consolations. Unlike ordinary water which can never satisfy, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that the water he offers will never leave her thirsty.

Now her first reaction is pretty ordinary, right? I mean, at first, she’s caught off guard by the presence of a Jew. The Jews and Samaritans accuse each other of defiling the faith, so, they don’t get along. Second, he is talking to her which was a big no-no back then. Men weren’t supposed to speak with women outside their family, especially without a chaperon. And third, she had snuck up to the well in the middle of the day and hadn’t planned on meeting anyone.

Usually, people would draw water in the morning and in the evening. She clearly didn’t want to interact with the women of the village, so when Jesus offers her water that never leaves her thirsty, she’s all in! The more socially awkward situations she could avoid, the better. So, Jesus has her attention. He asks her to come back with her husband. Aha! She knew there was going to be a catch!

She tells him she doesn’t have a husband. Jesus says she’s right, because she’s on her fifth husband! How does this stranger know about her? She’s blown away and assumes he’s some sort of prophet, but his words touch her. She comes to accept that he is the Messiah – the hope of the people. She goes to town and she tells everyone about him. They come quickly to see what the commotion is all about.

Who are her five husbands? We don’t know that anymore than we know her name. Some suggest that perhaps these “husbands” are symbolic for the things that distract her in life – maybe pleasure, comfort, wealth – you get the idea. Whatever the situation, remember she came to the well when she thought no one else would be around. Maybe she just didn’t want to hear the gossipers, or maybe she didn’t want to get picked on. But maybe, she was ashamed. Maybe the life she was leading was not the life she dreamed about when she was a child.

She was trying to stay under the radar. I wonder how many people try to hide themselves – maybe hide behind some intellectual bravado always ready with a sarcastic comeback. We don’t want anyone to see behind our walls. We can’t let anybody see who we really are. In the midst of this pandemic, it’s easy to feel alone and afraid – especially if you’re sick. Maybe you have a cold or the flu, but everybody around you stares when you cough. Or maybe you imagine them talking about you behind your back.

Whatever your circumstance, my brothers and sisters, that’s where Jesus finds us. He’s not afraid to show up at our “well” – the place we try to hide. He’s there with a smile and his love. You see, Jesus will never force himself on us, but he won’t leave us either.

This Lent in combination with the pandemic is a powerful time to turn our sin over to Jesus – those moments and failings we’re not proud of, to ask for reconciliation, to be cleansed and move on in the Spirit. Christ’s church is here ready to assist. I know that might sound complicated given the suspension of masses in some areas or limiting masses to smaller groups, but trust me, the Spirit is still working through Christ’s church.

Even if you can’t physically get to mass to receive the Eucharist, you can still recommit your life to Jesus Christ. By the way, just because you might not be able to get to mass doesn’t mean the Church gets a pass on the electric and water bills. Please, if you have the means, send your regular contribution to your parishes and maybe add a little extra for your parish social ministry to help your community reach out to those facing a particularly difficult challenge during this pandemic.

There are so many free resources to read the mass readings, listen to a reflection (like this podcast), and then invite the Holy Spirit to wash over you – to flood your life. We call it an Act of Spiritual Communion.

For your homework, I ask two things of you. First, please share this podcast with someone you know who might not be able to get to mass. Its wildly important help people feel connected the community. Second, I invite you to join me in an Act of Spiritual Communion and don’t forget to listen to All Things Catholic on Wednesday when we’ll unpack what Spiritual Communion is all about.

Pray with me, won’t you?

My Jesus,
I believe You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive the Eucharist,
I invite You to come into my heart.
I embrace You and unite myself to You.
Never permit me to be separated from you.
+Amen!

The Lord be with you. May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:

  1. Hahn, Scott W. and Curtis Mitch. Romans. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017.
  2. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
  3. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015.
  4. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Jesus’ human nature, 470-78
  2. God’s love manifest in the death of Christ, 604
  3. Reconciliation through the death of Christ, 613-14
  4. Justification through the death of Christ, 617, 1992
  5. Symbols of the Holy Spirit, 694
  6. The Holy Spirit, the living water, a gift of God, 694, 733-36, 1215, 1999, 2652
  7. Jesus reveals the Holy Spirit, 727-29
  8. Love is God’s gift and our response, 733, 2658
  9. Baptism, rebirth of water and Spirt, 1214-16, 1226-28
  10. The theological virtues, 1812-29, 1991
  11. God’s peace, 1829

Third Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 28
Mass Readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031520.cfm

First Reading
Exodus 17:3-7
In those days, in their thirst for water,
the people grumbled against Moses,
saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt?
Was it just to have us die here of thirst
with our children and our livestock?”
So Moses cried out to the LORD,
“What shall I do with this people?
a little more and they will stone me!”
The LORD answered Moses,
“Go over there in front of the people,
along with some of the elders of Israel,
holding in your hand, as you go,
the staff with which you struck the river.
I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb.
Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it
for the people to drink.”
This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel.
The place was called Massah and Meribah,
because the Israelites quarreled there
and tested the LORD, saying,
“Is the LORD in our midst or not?”

Responsorial
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9.
R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Second Reading
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
Brothers and sisters:
Since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

And hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Verse Before The Gospel
John 4:42, 15
Lord, you are truly the Savior of the world;
give me living water, that I may never thirst again.

Gospel
John 4:5-42
Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,
near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her,
“Give me a drink.”
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him,
“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—
Jesus answered and said to her,
“If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;
where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob,
who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself
with his children and his flocks?”
Jesus answered and said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty
or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Jesus said to her,
“Go call your husband and come back.”
The woman answered and said to him,
“I do not have a husband.”
Jesus answered her,
“You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’
For you have had five husbands,
and the one you have now is not your husband.
What you have said is true.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain;
but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus said to her,
“Believe me, woman, the hour is coming
when you will worship the Father
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You people worship what you do not understand;
we worship what we understand,
because salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and is now here,
when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth;
and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in Spirit and truth.”
The woman said to him,
“I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ;
when he comes, he will tell us everything.”
Jesus said to her,
“I am he, the one speaking with you.”

At that moment his disciples returned,
and were amazed that he was talking with a woman,
but still no one said, “What are you looking for?”
or “Why are you talking with her?”
The woman left her water jar
and went into the town and said to the people,
“Come see a man who told me everything I have done.
Could he possibly be the Christ?”
They went out of the town and came to him.
Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”
But he said to them,
“I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
So the disciples said to one another,
“Could someone have brought him something to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me
and to finish his work.
Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’?
I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.
The reaper is already receiving payment
and gathering crops for eternal life,
so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.
For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for;
others have done the work,
and you are sharing the fruits of their work.”

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him
because of the word of the woman who testified,
“He told me everything I have done.”
When the Samaritans came to him,
they invited him to stay with them;
and he stayed there two days.
Many more began to believe in him because of his word,
and they said to the woman,
“We no longer believe because of your word;
for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

or
Jn 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,
near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her,
“Give me a drink.”
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him,
“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—
Jesus answered and said to her,
“If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;
where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob,
who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself
with his children and his flocks?”
Jesus answered and said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty
or have to keep coming here to draw water.

“I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain;
but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus said to her,
“Believe me, woman, the hour is coming
when you will worship the Father
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You people worship what you do not understand;
we worship what we understand,
because salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and is now here,
when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth;
and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in Spirit and truth.”
The woman said to him,
“I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ;
when he comes, he will tell us everything.”
Jesus said to her,
“I am he, the one who is speaking with you.”

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him.
When the Samaritans came to him,
they invited him to stay with them;
and he stayed there two days.
Many more began to believe in him because of his word,
and they said to the woman,
“We no longer believe because of your word;
for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

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First Sunday in Lent

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Mass Readings

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First Reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Responsorial: Psalm 51:3-6, 12-13, 17
Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19 OR 5:12, 17-19
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030120.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

As we begin our first Sunday of Lent, we tackle an important social condition that is perhaps at the very core of the spiritual crisis today.

In the first reading from Genesis, we come to the temptation in the Garden, and indeed our second reading is a reflection on this first temptation which lead to the first – the original sin. This is a very important point. Too often we talk about the original sin, but before there was a sin, there was a temptation. What was the first temptation?

As you read the first reading which you’ll find near the bottom of the notes for today’s reflection, I want you to carefully read the interaction between the serpent and Eve. You can almost hear the conversation, can’t you?

What happened in the first chapter of Genesis? God created and he said it was good. Now in chapter two, the serpent says to Eve, “Good? You’re not good! You’re human! Look at you! You’re filthy. You’re disgusting! No, you are not good. But if you want to be good, then you need to eat the fruit of this tree. In fact, if you eat the fruit of this tree, you won’t just be good – you will be like God – no – you will be gods!”

What is the first temptation?

The first temptation is to reject the goodness of God’s creation. We buy into the voices whispering in our ears that we can’t be good. And that leads to the next big temptation – to be gods. What do gods get to do? Gods get to decide right from wrong; good from bad. So, if I do as the first humans did in the Garden – if I turn my back on what God asks of me, then I will be in control and I get to decide good from bad – right from wrong.

We are bombarded all day long with a myriad of voices. It’s impossible to tell the good from the bad. It’s all too easy to give in to the voice we think is good and embrace ourselves – our intellect – our wealth – our accomplishments, and convince ourselves that what we have is the ultimate good.

This, I think, is what Satan tempts Jesus with in today’s Gospel. If Jesus would just turn his back on God, then Jesus can become a god on earth, and he can have untold riches. It will be okay because as a god, Jesus will decide what is right from wrong. He can say that rejecting God’s voice isn’t bad and doing whatever you want whenever you want is good.

This is the at the very heart of relativism. What’s good for me doesn’t have to be good for you. Why? Because in my house, I’m god. In your house, you’re god. So, your rules can be different from mine. There is no such thing as moral Truth. It’s live and let live. And that idea is, quite frankly, intoxicating. But truth is that nothing – not wealth or sex or power or drugs or alcohol – nothing can fill the whole in our hearts except the love of Jesus Christ.

And what do we do with that love? We share it with others. As disciples, our task is to help build God’s Kingdom on earth. So, as disciples we strive to use the gifts and talents we have been given – to develop the best version of ourselves to give people hope and to help make the here and now a better place for everyone.

Is that easy? Is living a life totally in touch with our gifts and talents and totally following the will of the Father easy? No. The experience of the cross tells us that the path for the disciple is not only difficult, but it can be dangerous. But the question before you and before me is about our eternity. No wealth can save us. Only Jesus can save us. So, especially during this season of Lent, we should listen more intently and try to discern not only God’s voice among the myriad of voices we hear, but we should also try to identify and, with the help God provides through our guardian angels and the saints, reject the voices of the enemy. Like our psalmist, we turn to God and we cry out, “Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.”

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I ask you to reflect on the following two questions this week.

  1. First, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. How do I test God’s love for me? How can I grow in trust of God?
  2. Second, Behold, angels came and ministered to him. How have I felt God’s care this week? How can I share God’s loving care with those in need?

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:

  1. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
  2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
  3. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Temptation of Jesus, 394, 538-540, 2119
  2. “Lead us not into temptation”, 2846-2949
  3. Jesus and the angels, 333
  4. Seductions of the devil, 394-395
  5. The Fall, 385-390, 396-400
  6. Adam, Original Sin, Christ the New Adam, 359, 402-411, 615

First Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 22
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030120.cfm

Reading
First Reading Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
and so man became a living being.

Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,
and placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow
that were delightful to look at and good for food,
with 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 cunning of all the animals
that the LORD God had made.
The serpent asked the woman,
“Did God really tell you not to eat
from any of the trees in the garden?”
The woman answered the serpent:
“We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;
it is only about the fruit of the tree
in the middle of the garden that God said,
‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’”
But the serpent said to the woman:
“You certainly will not die!
No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it
your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods
who know what is good and what is evil.”
The woman saw that the tree was good for food,
pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.
So she took some of its fruit and ate it;
and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her,
and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened,
and they realized that they were naked;
so they sewed fig leaves together
and made loincloths for themselves.

Responsorial
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Second Reading
Romans 5:12-19 OR 5:12, 17-19
Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.
But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one, the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.
And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned.
For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation;
but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.

or

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

or if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.

Verse Before The Gospel
Matthew 4:4B
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

ospel
Matthew 4:1-11
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 him alone shall you serve.”

Then the devil left him and, behold,
angels came and ministered to him.