First Sunday of Lent

“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4

       Our yaya (nanny) has been a part of our family for years. She helped us raise both our kids since they were newborns. I’m grateful to her for many things, but above all, I’m thankful that she never took advantage of our trust in giving her free rein around our home.

       One night, we were watching a news report about a family that had been burglarized by their own househelper. Yaya was frowning at the TV. “You know, Ma’am,” she said in Tagalog, “these people are the reason why it’s so hard for other decent, hardworking helpers to find jobs, especially when they don’t have anyone to refer them. If they went to Mass more often, they would know that if they treat their employers right, they will have free meals and shelter every day. They do it because they think they need money when they actually lack God in their lives.”

       I found that her words were insightful and relevant both to the rich and poor. Sometimes the best way to satisfy our hunger and temptation to do evil thing is to feed off of the Word of God and let Him guide our actions. Eleanore Teo (elyo.lee@gmail.com)

Reflection:Prayer is a powerful remedy to resist temptation.

Lord, as the wealth of the world is laid in front of me, speak to me as I close my eyes and tell me what is rightfully mine.

St. John Joseph of the Cross, pray for us.

Adam and Eve had been naked and unafraid. Suddenly they became aware of their nakedness and felt ashamed, and they tried to hide from each other and from God. This is how sin destroys the blessing and unity of creation and turns it into a source of fear and shame.

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. 8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed. 9 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. 3:1 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?” 2 The woman answered the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 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.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! 5 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.” 6 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. 7 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.

R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing  spirit sustain in me. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)

In this reading, Paul emphasizes the saving power of grace that is greater than the destroying power of sin. Original sin must always be understood within the context of the greater power of God to redeem. It is a mistake to focus on the power of sin, even though it can be very destructive.

12 Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned — 13 for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. 19 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.

Satan tempted Jesus in the desert. How does Jesus overcome Satan’s temptations? By His trust in the Word of God. He places Himself under the grace of Scriptures because He knows this is the truth and guaranteed by the Father. Let us follow His example.

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

1 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. 3 The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” 4 He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6 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.” 7 Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” 8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” 10 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.” 11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

think: What is your greatest temptation? How can others help you? Pray to Jesus for the grace to overcome this.

Read the Bible in one year 2 Peter 1-3

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

WRESTLING WITH THE DEVIL

“Use what you have to get what you want,” that’s what many people today take as their philosophy of life. Jesus, however, shows that this is not always right. In fact, when that principle is applied without putting God first, it becomes the devil’s philosophy, a philosophy we should reject as Jesus did.

       Matthew tells us about the three temptations that Jesus had to face: to change stone into bread, to fall down and worship the devil, and a sensational jump down from the pinnacle of the Temple.

       In each of these temptations, the devil is actually saying to Jesus, “Come on, use what you have to get what you want.” And in each case, Jesus overcomes the temptation by replying, “No, we can only use godly means to satisfy our God-given needs.”

       The temptations of Jesus show us the tactics of the devil:

       Bread, a symbol for all that sustains our physical life, is a great blessing. But Satan tries to make material things the ultimate, distracting us from a deeper hunger and a more enduring food. God intends political power and leadership to serve the common good; Satan twists things to make leaders self-seeking and oppressive bullies like himself. Then there is the “religious temptation,” the trickiest of them all, manipulating God for our own glory, using His gifts to make people look at us rather than at Him.

       Jesus wins in this first wrestling match. He shows us how to keep from being defeated — an important lesson at the beginning of Lent, a time when we are invited to defeat evil in us.

      Fasting breaks our attachments to material blessings and stimulates our spiritual appetite.

         Humble service breaks the iron grip of pride. Reverent worship of authentic faith breaks the full impact of superstition and arrogant religion.

       And the Word of God is shown as the sword of the Spirit, the secret weapon that cuts through the enemy’s lies. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

Into which of the three temptations are you prone to fall easily?

Lord, thank You for showing me how to counter the devil’s temptations. Be with me in moments of temptation and give me the strength not to give in. Amen.