Thoughts to Live by | First Sunday of Lent

by Cardinal Orlando Beltran Quevedo, O.M.I, Archbishop-Emeritus of Cotabato

Liturgy of the Word

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7;

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17;

Romans 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19;

Matthew 4:1-11

Note from ORDO — Today, funds from Mass Collections are sent to Rome’s Opus Sti. Petri for the formation of seminarians, priests and religious throughout the world .

1st Reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7. Creation and Fall of Adam and Eve.

“Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life (the divine breath, see Ez. 37:5, 9-10; Jn. 20:22) and the man became a living being” (v. 7, the Hebrew word “adam” is a generic term meaning “human being,” understood to be male). God is portrayed as a potter molding the human body out of earth. There is a play of words in Hebrew between ‘adam and ‘adama (ground). “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 grow every tree that was delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil” (vv. 7-9).

The snake, the most cunning of all the animals tempted the woman, saying that, contrary to the words of the Lord God, eating the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden would not cause death but would actually make them “like gods, who know good and evil” (3:2-5). Seeing the fruit desirable for gaining wisdom and good for food, the woman ate and gave some to her husband (v. 6). Then their eyes were opened and realized they were naked. They made loincloths for themselves out of fig leaves sewed together (v. 7).

2nd Reading: Romans 5:12-19. Humanity’s Sin through Adam.

Through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death. Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even for those who did not sin as Adam (vv. 12-14). If by one person’s transgression, death and condemnation entered, so does God’s grace of justification flow in abundance through one person, Jesus Christ (vv. 15-17). “Just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous” (v. 19). The disobedience of Adam and death for many is strikingly contrasted to the obedience of Jesus and life for the many through his redemptive suffering.

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11. The Temptation of Jesus. Led by the Spirit to the wilderness, Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights. In hunger, he is tempted by the devil. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus responds, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (vv. 1-4, Dt. 8:3).

Then the devil takes him to the highest point of the temple of Jerusalem and says, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.” For it is written that angels would lift you up “so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (v.6, Ps. 91:11, 12). Jesus answers him, “It is also written ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’”(vv. 5-7, Dt. 6:16).

Again, from a high mountain, the devil shows him “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor,” and says, “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.” But Jesus answers, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (vv. 8-10, Dt. 6:13). The devil leaves him, and angels come and attend to him (v. 11).

Three temptations: the need to satisfy hunger, comfort, and desires - the temptation of the flesh; the temptation of pride, forcing God’s hand to prove oneself and the temptation of power and control. We are often bombarded with things that appeal to our flesh. We are likewise tested to assert our selves and promote our pride. And we are often tempted to chase power and authority. The response of Jesus to the three tempations is No; such too should be our response. Faith, humility and dependence on God’s grace make this possible.

Prayer — Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects, through Christ our Lord. Amen.