First Sunday in Lent
Intro: Jesus was tempted in the desert by the same devil who tempts us. As we gather today, lets try and learn how to overcome our own modern temptations - violence, drugs, permissiveness, lack of faith, hope or despair. In this fight against Satan, let Jesus be our inspiration and our hope.
Readings: Genesis tells us how the peace of God's creation is shattered by sin when Adam and Eve succumb to the serpent's temptation which leads to their downfall and punishment.
Paul compares the disobedience of Adam, whose sin brought death, to the obedience of Christ, Whose death restored eternal life.
Gen. 2: 7-9, 3: 1-7;
Romans 5: 12-19;
Matthew 17: 1-9;
When did it all begin to go wrong? In today's first reading, Genesis tells us that "the serpent was the most subtle of beasts" - he certainly knew how to distort the
truth and make temptation irresistibly attractive. Woman and man alike fall to the subtlety of the serpent's promise: eat the forbidden fruit, and they'll be "like gods." Of course, once they have eaten it, their eyes are opened and all they see is that their innocence has been lost! Sin has just entered the world!
Now: compare Eden's paradise with the barren, forbidding wilderness in which today's Gospel takes place. This is the desolation which faced the Israelites during their forty years' wandering from slavery to liberation, where they were so often tested, and so often failed; it's the place where Satan is most at home.
Jesus fasts in this wilderness for forty days; He is hungry, and the devil's time has come. That master of subtlety even tries to put the Son of God to the test by distorting the truth of His mission as Messiah.
Those three separate temptations wear differing masks of persuasiveness: by using His miraculous powers, Jesus can assuage His hunger by turning stones into bread; belief in His mission can be guaranteed by a spectacular sign; and finally, temporal power to achieve His mission can be assured. It's all about uncalled-for miracles, sensational signs for self-promotion and worldly power.
And then, from the Garden of Eden, through the wilderness of Exodus, where the Israelites' wandered in the desert, we see yet another Garden - that of Gethsemane, where Jesus tells His disciples to pray not to be put to the test. And, when the ultimate test of their discipleship arrived, they all fail in one way or another. What was it that was weak - their prayer or their love? Mary Magdalen, the great sinner, was the only one to show enough love by remaining at the foot of the cross.
When does it all begin to go wrong for us? The devil does his best demolition work by discouragement: financial worries, family quarrels, difficulties at work, the break-up of a relationship - any of these things can narrow our vision so that we merely see the problems, and fail to bring God into the bigger picture. We may be tempted to give up responsibility for ourselves and our future, and to see ourselves as victims of circumstance.
The biggest lesson we've got to learn is that we're not iron men .. the battle can't be won on our own. But once we realise that, no matter the mess that we've got
ourselves into, Jesus will always allow us to close the door, leave all our baggage behind and start again. We only find forgiveness, healing and freedom when we
come to realise and appreciate the fantastic reality of God's generosity - the fact that He loves us, and will continue to love us, no matter what we do - when we
begin to accept the reality of our own loveliness and love-ability!
Lent is about the expansion of the heart: just as the heart muscle benefits from exercise, so our spiritual hearts benefit from lenten observances and practices.
First, prayer opens our hearts and helps us listen to God's word. Second, the invitation to fast expands our hearts so that we become more aware of the ways we so often focus on satisfying our own needs and desires rather than being willing to open our hearts to our neighbour.
Thirdly, we develop our lenten exercises by giving to others through almsgiving or charitable works, again, focusing on the needs of our neighbour. By the end of Lent, with plenty of exercise, our spiritual hearts will be in better shape and more ready to resist temptation and place their trust in God .. and our neighbour!
Intercessions
As we begin our Lent together, we ask the Father for the help we need in our daily struggle against temptation and sin:-
1. We pray for all who serve the Church as bishops, priests, deacons and ourselves, God's faithful people. May they, and we, follow Christ through growth in humility and service - Lord, hear us.
2. For our government. As it acts on our behalf, may it do so responsibly in its dealings with the wider world, particularly in all the poorer and troubled nations which call for justice and help - Lord, hear us.
3. For parents, teachers and guardians of young people, May their lives be a constant source of love, inspiration and good example to those in their care - Lord, hear us
4. For those whose hearts are full of violence and hatred; for ourselves and all others who have fallen into a habit of sin. In time of temptation, may we remain steadfast, seek what is good and true, and allow God to transform us by love - Lord, hear us.
5. For all our loved ones who have completed life's pilgrimage : Patrick Cullen, Mary McCann, John Richards, Helen Cleary, John McGowan, together with those whose anniversaries we celebrate: Michael Fitzgerald, Catheeine Fitzgerald, and Ian Liddle. May they now enjoy the eternal peace of paradise - Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear these prayers of ours. Purify and strengthen us through the lenten penances which we shall try to perform during this time.