Sunday February 21, 2010 is the 1st Sunday of Lent. Our readings can be found on page 26 of the Weekly Leader Guide.
Our focus this Sunday is on the one true God, the only God that gives real life, real power and real security.
Our first reading recounts the Israelites in the promised land and their praise and worship of God for all that he has provided them. God freed them from slavery in Egypt, took care of them as they wandered the desert and brought them to the promised land. After their first harvest they offered their first fruits to God and bowed down and worshipped Him.
In the Gospel Satan is tempting Jesus with food, worldly power and wealth and tempting him to test God's promise to send angels to protect Jesus should he fall. It is apparent from the Gospel reading that Satan is well versed in the scripture. Indeed, he is a fallen angel. Jesus rebuffs Satan's temptations by quoting the scriptures:
"Man does not live by bread alone." Deut. 8:3
"You shall worship the Lord, your God, and it is He you shall serve." Deut. 6:13
"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." Deut. 6:16
All of these scriptures come from Deuteronomy when Moses was presenting the 10 commandments to the Israelites. This is directly from the Covenant.
What Satan was offering was life, power and wealth that are limited by this earth. Jesus rebuked Satan, choosing not to put his faith in worldly, passing things, but in the one true God who gives real life, power and security.
Our lesson is this: we believe in ONE God, the only God who gives real life, real power and real security. We are tempted each and every day, just as Jesus was tempted, and it is up to us to choose God and all that God is to us that is everlasting and eternal over the things of this world which are passing and can only give fleeting moments of happiness and cannot grant eternal life or give to us eternal love and protection. We are not meant to remain in this life, but to pass into the kingdom of God. We are preparing ourselves now for what is to come, much like and unborn child developing in the water filled womb in preparation for a life that he will live with light and air. (see my Lenten Journey reflections)
The Gospel reading might lead some to believe that worldly wealth and power are sinful by nature. That is not true. It is not a sin to be rich, however we need to have humility where we have been granted many graces and in our thankfulness to God turn our many blessings outward from ourselves and put them to a use that is helpful to others. More importantly we need to humble ourselves and understand that while we have abundance today, by the grace of God, that is no guarantee that we will have as much tomorrow. So that we do not become dependent on worldly things, we need to train ourselves to live without them and not put faith in them. Likewise we cannot put our faith in men since mankind is sinful by nature and influenced by worldly things. Our faith should rightfully be in the Lord, through whom all good things come.
The Psalm this Sunday is #91 Be With Me Lord
Have a blessed week,
In Christ,
Elaine