Reflection on Mass readings for March 9 (First Sunday of Lent)
Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13
There is always the temptation to take for granted the gifts God has given us and what God does for us. The Israelites had to be constantly reminded of the great things God had done for them – so much so that in the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses gives them instructions that when they bring their offering to the Lord, they are to remind themselves of those great things.
We are no different than the Israelites; we also can forget, and need to be reminded of the great works of God in our lives. Each time we celebrate the sacred liturgy, we are reminded of those great works. However, as we go through the week, we can forget these gifts and turn away from God.
In the three temptations of Jesus in the Gospel, we see the three ways that Satan tries to tempt us to stray from God. Some identify them as worldly possessions or comfort, stature or adulation, and power. They try to draw us away from God.
The three great traditions of Lent – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – help us to overcome these temptations in our lives.
After his baptism, Jesus is found praying (the first tradition) and then is led by the Spirit into the desert. Throughout his ministry on Earth, Jesus would often go off by himself to pray, especially before significant events. Jesus’ whole life could be considered prayer because he was totally connected to the Father. Prayer helps us stay connected to God and ward off the snares of the Evil One.
The Gospel tells us Jesus fasted (the second tradition) for forty days, eating nothing. We have a different understanding of what fasting means. Humanly speaking, it would be extremely difficult not to have any sustenance for forty days.
When I was working in my career, a colleague and I would do forty days of fasting. We would eat nothing between sunrise and sunset. It was difficult at times to go for twelve hours without food, but having each other’s support in this endeavor made it easier. Abstaining from a certain food or activity could be a part of fasting.
The third tradition during Lent is almsgiving. We mostly identify this as giving money to the poor. It can also be works of charity or mercy, feeding the poor, visiting the sick or disabled, or any of the other corporal or spiritual works of mercy. Works of justice can also be a form of almsgiving. In the third temptation, Jesus stays true to his mission of redemption by sharing the glory and love of God that shines through him.
Maybe we struggle with how much prayer, fasting or almsgiving is enough. In the first reading, we hear the Israelites laid before the Lord the first fruits of their land which God had given them.
What would it mean if we think of our first fruits as the best we can offer, which are offered to God first? Do we think of this, offering our works to God first, or is it the last thing we think about doing? Can we give our best to God if it is the last thing we do?
Maybe we can take a cue from St. Francis. Instead of hate, we can share love. We can bring light to someone’s darkness. Could we seek out satisfaction and comfort for others as well as for ourselves? What is the Spirit prompting us to do this Lent?
Deacon Christopher Colville serves at Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville.