5th Sunday of lent
First reading
(Isaiah 43:16-21:)
Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise
Second Reading
(Philippians 3:8-14:)
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but dung, that I may win Christ and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, that if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. It is not as though I had already attained it, nor were already perfect; but I follow after, that I may apprehend that for which Christ Jesus also apprehended me. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended it, but this one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Gospel reading
(John 8:1-11:)
Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said unto Him, "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned but what sayest thou?" This they said testing Him, that they might have cause to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted Himself up and said unto them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."
And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. And they who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the eldest even unto the last, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted Himself up and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?" She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more."
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Reconciliation
4th Sunday of lent
First reading
(Joshua 5:9-12)
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Second Reading
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto him, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
Gospel Reading
The parable of the Prodigal Son
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, this man received sinners, and eightieth with them. And he spoke this parable unto them, saying, and he said,
A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that fell to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father; I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. 9And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gives me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. Righteousness of God in him.
First reading
(Joshua 5:9-12)
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Second Reading
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto him, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
Gospel Reading
The parable of the Prodigal Son
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, this man received sinners, and eightieth with them. And he spoke this parable unto them, saying, and he said,
A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that fell to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father; I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. 9And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gives me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. Righteousness of God in him.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Our Faith
3rd Sunday of Lent
First Reading
Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15
The Burning Bush
Moses pastured the sheep of Jethro his father in law, priest of Midian. One day he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. The angel of Yahweh appeared to him by means of a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that although the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Moses thought, “I will go and see this amazing sight, why is the bush not burning up. Yahweh said that Moses was drawing near to look and God called him from the middle of the bush. Moses! Moses s! He replies,” Here I am.” Yahweh said to him , Do not come near; take off your sandals because the place you are standing now is holy ground”, And God continued, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
Moses hid his face lest his eyes look on God. Yahweh said I have seen the humiliation of my people in Egypt and I hear their cry when they are cruelly treated by their taskmasters. I know their suffering. I have come down to free them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a beautiful spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the territory of the Canaanites, the Hitites, the Ammonites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.
Moses answered God,” If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, they will ask me: What is his name? What shall I answer them? “God said to Moses, I am who I am. This is what you will say to the sons of Israel: I am sent to you.” God then said to Moses “ You will say to the Israelites: Yahweh the God of your father s, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent me.”That will be my name forever and by this name they shall call upon me for all generations to come.
Second Reading
I Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Faith Demands Sacrifice
Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, about our ancestors. Al l of them was under the cloud and all crossed the sea. All went the baptism of the land and of the sea to join Moses and all of them ate from the same manna and all of them drank from the same spiritual drink. For you know that they drink from the same spiritual rock following them, and the rock was Christ. However, most of them did not please God and the desert was strewn with their bodies. All of this happened as an example for us, so that we may not become the people of evil desires, as they did nor grumble as some of them did and were cut down by destroying angel.
These things happened to them as an example, and they were written as a warning for us, as the last times come upon us. Therefore, if you think you stand, beware, lest you fall. No trial greater than human endurance has overcome you. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your strength. He will give you, together with the temptation, the strength to escape and resist.
Gospel Reading
Luke 13:1-9
The fig Tree without a fruit
One day some persons told Jesus what had occurred in the temple: Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this? I tell you: no .But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.
And all these persons in SIloah who crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were guiltier than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you: no. But unless they change their ways, you will all perish as they did.
And Jesus continued with this story, A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. Then he said to the gardener: Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none. Cut it down, why it should use up the ground? The gardened replied: Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer and perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn’t you can cut it down.
Questions for reflection:
1. Do you believe in second chances?
2. Do you believe that you deserve a second chance?
3. Do you accept everything that God gave you and trust him completely?
A lot of things happen to us everyday. Sometimes though we plan everything out, something will go wrong and we wonder if God is testing us or if it was just your fault. We wonder if it is all for the better, and If it is all for the better then why are we not happy with what happen. But like the birds in the wild who were taken care of by God, who are we to question his plans for us. He provides us with everything that we need and He knows what is best for us.
First Reading
Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15
The Burning Bush
Moses pastured the sheep of Jethro his father in law, priest of Midian. One day he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. The angel of Yahweh appeared to him by means of a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that although the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Moses thought, “I will go and see this amazing sight, why is the bush not burning up. Yahweh said that Moses was drawing near to look and God called him from the middle of the bush. Moses! Moses s! He replies,” Here I am.” Yahweh said to him , Do not come near; take off your sandals because the place you are standing now is holy ground”, And God continued, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
Moses hid his face lest his eyes look on God. Yahweh said I have seen the humiliation of my people in Egypt and I hear their cry when they are cruelly treated by their taskmasters. I know their suffering. I have come down to free them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a beautiful spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the territory of the Canaanites, the Hitites, the Ammonites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.
Moses answered God,” If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, they will ask me: What is his name? What shall I answer them? “God said to Moses, I am who I am. This is what you will say to the sons of Israel: I am sent to you.” God then said to Moses “ You will say to the Israelites: Yahweh the God of your father s, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent me.”That will be my name forever and by this name they shall call upon me for all generations to come.
Second Reading
I Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Faith Demands Sacrifice
Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, about our ancestors. Al l of them was under the cloud and all crossed the sea. All went the baptism of the land and of the sea to join Moses and all of them ate from the same manna and all of them drank from the same spiritual drink. For you know that they drink from the same spiritual rock following them, and the rock was Christ. However, most of them did not please God and the desert was strewn with their bodies. All of this happened as an example for us, so that we may not become the people of evil desires, as they did nor grumble as some of them did and were cut down by destroying angel.
These things happened to them as an example, and they were written as a warning for us, as the last times come upon us. Therefore, if you think you stand, beware, lest you fall. No trial greater than human endurance has overcome you. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your strength. He will give you, together with the temptation, the strength to escape and resist.
Gospel Reading
Luke 13:1-9
The fig Tree without a fruit
One day some persons told Jesus what had occurred in the temple: Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this? I tell you: no .But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.
And all these persons in SIloah who crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were guiltier than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you: no. But unless they change their ways, you will all perish as they did.
And Jesus continued with this story, A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. Then he said to the gardener: Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none. Cut it down, why it should use up the ground? The gardened replied: Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer and perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn’t you can cut it down.
Questions for reflection:
1. Do you believe in second chances?
2. Do you believe that you deserve a second chance?
3. Do you accept everything that God gave you and trust him completely?
A lot of things happen to us everyday. Sometimes though we plan everything out, something will go wrong and we wonder if God is testing us or if it was just your fault. We wonder if it is all for the better, and If it is all for the better then why are we not happy with what happen. But like the birds in the wild who were taken care of by God, who are we to question his plans for us. He provides us with everything that we need and He knows what is best for us.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
2nd sunday of Lent
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
God’s pact with Abram
Then Yahweh brought him outside and said to him “Look at the sky and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that. Abraham believed Yahweh who, because of this, held him to be an upright man. And he said “I am Yahweh who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as this possession.”
Then Abram asked, “My Lord, how am I to know that it shall be mine? “Yahweh replied “Bring me a three year old Heifer, a three year old goat, a three year old ram, a turtle dove and a young pigeon”. Abram brought all these animals, cut them in two and laid each half facing its other half, but he did not cut the birds in half. The birds of prey came down upon them, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, deep sleep came over Abram and a dreadful darkness took hold of him.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between halves of the victims. On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this country from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.
Philippians 3:17 4:1
Unite in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and look at those who walk in our way of life. For many lives as enemies of the cross of Christ, I have said it to you many times, and now I repeat it with tears: they are heading for ruin; their belly is their God and they feel proud of what should be their shame. They only think of earthly things. For us our citizenship is in heaven, from where we wait the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making like his own body, radiant in glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, you my glory and crown, be steadfast in the Lord.
Luke 9:28-36
The transfiguration
About eight days, after Jesus had said all this, he took Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing become dazzling white. Two men were talking to Jesus: Moses and Elijah. They had just appeared in heavenly glory and were telling him about his departure that had to take place in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had fallen asleep, but they awoke suddenly and saw Jesus ‘Glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said to him “Master how good it is for us to be here for we can make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one foe Elijah. “For Peter did not know what to say. And no sooner had he spoken than a cloud appeared and covered them; and the disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud. “This is my son, my Chosen one, listen to him.” And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was there alone.
The disciples kept this to themselves at the time, telling no one of anything they had seen.
Questions for reflection:
1. Who do you go to when you feel burdened?
2. How optimistic are you when an approaching storm is coming in your life?
Jesus was foretold of his death before it came. He was visited by the Moses and Elijah, maybe to give moral support considering that he still has his human weakness. In spite of the anxiety, he offered everything to his father and let His will be done.
A lot of times in our life, we undergo problems and obstacles. Sometimes we almost felt so tired that we wonder if these hardships are necessary. We ask ourselves if we really have to experience all the pains and sufferings. Like a charcoal which underwent a lot of pressure for a long time to be a diamond, great people are product of hardships, pain and sufferings. Everything that happens in our life has a purpose. It may not be discernible at present but afterwards we’ll find out why.
God’s pact with Abram
Then Yahweh brought him outside and said to him “Look at the sky and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that. Abraham believed Yahweh who, because of this, held him to be an upright man. And he said “I am Yahweh who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as this possession.”
Then Abram asked, “My Lord, how am I to know that it shall be mine? “Yahweh replied “Bring me a three year old Heifer, a three year old goat, a three year old ram, a turtle dove and a young pigeon”. Abram brought all these animals, cut them in two and laid each half facing its other half, but he did not cut the birds in half. The birds of prey came down upon them, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, deep sleep came over Abram and a dreadful darkness took hold of him.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between halves of the victims. On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this country from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.
Philippians 3:17 4:1
Unite in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and look at those who walk in our way of life. For many lives as enemies of the cross of Christ, I have said it to you many times, and now I repeat it with tears: they are heading for ruin; their belly is their God and they feel proud of what should be their shame. They only think of earthly things. For us our citizenship is in heaven, from where we wait the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making like his own body, radiant in glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, you my glory and crown, be steadfast in the Lord.
Luke 9:28-36
The transfiguration
About eight days, after Jesus had said all this, he took Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing become dazzling white. Two men were talking to Jesus: Moses and Elijah. They had just appeared in heavenly glory and were telling him about his departure that had to take place in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had fallen asleep, but they awoke suddenly and saw Jesus ‘Glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said to him “Master how good it is for us to be here for we can make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one foe Elijah. “For Peter did not know what to say. And no sooner had he spoken than a cloud appeared and covered them; and the disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud. “This is my son, my Chosen one, listen to him.” And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was there alone.
The disciples kept this to themselves at the time, telling no one of anything they had seen.
Questions for reflection:
1. Who do you go to when you feel burdened?
2. How optimistic are you when an approaching storm is coming in your life?
Jesus was foretold of his death before it came. He was visited by the Moses and Elijah, maybe to give moral support considering that he still has his human weakness. In spite of the anxiety, he offered everything to his father and let His will be done.
A lot of times in our life, we undergo problems and obstacles. Sometimes we almost felt so tired that we wonder if these hardships are necessary. We ask ourselves if we really have to experience all the pains and sufferings. Like a charcoal which underwent a lot of pressure for a long time to be a diamond, great people are product of hardships, pain and sufferings. Everything that happens in our life has a purpose. It may not be discernible at present but afterwards we’ll find out why.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
WHO IS OUR TRUE MASTER?
1st Sunday of Lent
First Reading (Deuteronomy 26:4-10)
The Israelite proclaims his Faith
Then the priest shall take the large basket from your hands and place it before the altar of Yahweh your God, and you shall say these words before Yahweh,” My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt to find refuge there, while still few in number; but in that country, he became a great and powerful nation. The Egyptians maltreated us, oppressed us and subjected us to harsh slavery. So we called Yahweh, the God of our fathers, and Yahweh listened to us. He saw our humiliation, our hand and our labor and the oppression to which we were subjected. He brought us out of Egypt with a firm hand, manifesting his power with signs and awesome wonders. And he bought us here with milk and honey. So now I bring and offer the first fruits of the land which you, Yahweh have given me.”
Second Reading (Romans 10: 8-13)
True righteousness coming from faith also says: The word of God is near you, on your lips and your hearts. This is the message we preach and this is faith. You are saved if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart you believe that God raised him from the dead. By believing from the Heart, you obtain true righteousness: by confessing the faith with your lips you are saved. For scripture says: no one who believes in him will be ashamed. Here there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; all have the same Lord, who is very generous with whoever calls on him. Truly, all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
Gospel Reading (Luke 4: 1-13)
Jesus was now full of spirit. As he returned from Jordan, the spirit led him into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. He did not eat anything during that time, and in the end he was hungry. The devil then said to him” I f you are the son of God, tell this stone to turn into bread”. But Jesus answered, “Scripture says: People cannot live on bread alone.”
Then the devil took him up to a high place and showed him in a flash all the nations of the world. And he said to Jesus, “I can give you power over all the nations and their wealth will be yours, for power and wealth have been delivered to me and I give them to whom I wish. All this will be yours provided that you worship me. But Jesus replied, “Scripture says: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.”
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest wall of the temple and he said. “”If you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: God will order his angels to take care of you and again: They will hold you and their hands, lest you hurt your foot on the stones.”But Jesus replied, “It is written: You shall not challenge the Lord your God.”
When the devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus he left him, to return another time.
Questions for reflection:
1. Who am I serving?
2. Which part of my life do I prioritize?
3. Who are the people who have influenced me?
4. Do I weigh other people? How do I weigh other people?
Jesus tells us that the right way is always not the easiest road to travel. While the other way offers all the comfort and luxury and the world. God gave us the free will to choose the road we want to go. A lot of times we use the wrong road to salvation but we have a God who always gives second chances every time we got astray. It is up to us to accept the opportunity of second chances that God is offering to us or to continue to refuse Him and pursue a way of sinful life.
First Reading (Deuteronomy 26:4-10)
The Israelite proclaims his Faith
Then the priest shall take the large basket from your hands and place it before the altar of Yahweh your God, and you shall say these words before Yahweh,” My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt to find refuge there, while still few in number; but in that country, he became a great and powerful nation. The Egyptians maltreated us, oppressed us and subjected us to harsh slavery. So we called Yahweh, the God of our fathers, and Yahweh listened to us. He saw our humiliation, our hand and our labor and the oppression to which we were subjected. He brought us out of Egypt with a firm hand, manifesting his power with signs and awesome wonders. And he bought us here with milk and honey. So now I bring and offer the first fruits of the land which you, Yahweh have given me.”
Second Reading (Romans 10: 8-13)
True righteousness coming from faith also says: The word of God is near you, on your lips and your hearts. This is the message we preach and this is faith. You are saved if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart you believe that God raised him from the dead. By believing from the Heart, you obtain true righteousness: by confessing the faith with your lips you are saved. For scripture says: no one who believes in him will be ashamed. Here there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; all have the same Lord, who is very generous with whoever calls on him. Truly, all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
Gospel Reading (Luke 4: 1-13)
Jesus was now full of spirit. As he returned from Jordan, the spirit led him into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. He did not eat anything during that time, and in the end he was hungry. The devil then said to him” I f you are the son of God, tell this stone to turn into bread”. But Jesus answered, “Scripture says: People cannot live on bread alone.”
Then the devil took him up to a high place and showed him in a flash all the nations of the world. And he said to Jesus, “I can give you power over all the nations and their wealth will be yours, for power and wealth have been delivered to me and I give them to whom I wish. All this will be yours provided that you worship me. But Jesus replied, “Scripture says: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.”
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest wall of the temple and he said. “”If you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: God will order his angels to take care of you and again: They will hold you and their hands, lest you hurt your foot on the stones.”But Jesus replied, “It is written: You shall not challenge the Lord your God.”
When the devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus he left him, to return another time.
Questions for reflection:
1. Who am I serving?
2. Which part of my life do I prioritize?
3. Who are the people who have influenced me?
4. Do I weigh other people? How do I weigh other people?
Jesus tells us that the right way is always not the easiest road to travel. While the other way offers all the comfort and luxury and the world. God gave us the free will to choose the road we want to go. A lot of times we use the wrong road to salvation but we have a God who always gives second chances every time we got astray. It is up to us to accept the opportunity of second chances that God is offering to us or to continue to refuse Him and pursue a way of sinful life.
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