I Sunday Lent:[A]: Gen 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Rom 5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11

I Sunday Lent:[A]: Gen 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Rom 5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11

Introduction: Today we are specially invited by the Church to celebrate Jesus Christ the second Adam, who by the power of the Holy Spirit overcame temptation and sin, and who by his obedience and faithfulness to the Father’s will gained back the world to the Father. This season of Lent as the Church in her wisdom has fashioned it, is a period when we join Jesus in his “Wilderness Experience” (praying and fasting) in order to prepare ourselves for the rest of the year and for the journey of faith ahead.

Exegesis:  The tempter urges Jesus to turn stones into loaves of bread. Jesus rejects the temptation to reduce his divine mission to satisfying immediate, temporal needs. The tempter then suggests that Jesus prove he is really the Son of God by jumping off the parapet of the temple: God would send his angels to save him. Jesus rejects the temptation to put God to a test. Finally, Jesus rejects the temptation to idolatry, even if that worship would enrich and empower him with all kingdoms of the world. Matthew affirms that Jesus remains faithful to his deepest personal truth, revealed when he came up from the water of baptism and the Spirit of God came upon him: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Mt 3:17).

Today’s Gospel (Matthew 4: 1-11) teaches us how the "desert experience" of fasting, praying, and soul-strengthening was a kind of spiritual “training camp” for Jesus which enabled him to confront his temptations successfully and then to preach the Good News of salvation.  The Gospel also prescribes a dual action plan for Lent: (1) we should confront our temptations and conquer them as Jesus did, by fasting, prayer and the Word of God.  (2) We should renew our lives by true repentance and live the Good News of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness.

Anecdote: A woman phoned God and bitterly said she didn't understand Him. God replied, “I too. Madam, that makes us even." Then He hung up. 

Joke: A Catholic priest working in an inner city was walking down an alley one evening on his way home when a young man came down the alley behind him and poked a knife against his back. "Give me your money," the young man said. The priest opened his jacket and reached into an inner pocket to remove his wallet, exposing his clerical collar. "Oh, I'm sorry, Father," said the young man, "I didn't see your collar. I don't want YOUR money." Trembling from the scare, the priest removed a cigar from his shirt pocket and offered it to the young man. "Here," he said. "Have a cigar." "Oh, no, I can't do that," the young man replied, "I gave them up for Lent."

Practical Application: 1) We are to confront and conquer temptations as Jesus did, using the means he employed.  Every one of us is tempted to seek sinful pleasures, easy wealth and a position of authority, power and glory, and to use any means, even unjust or sinful ones, to gain these things.  Jesus serves as a model for us in conquering temptations by strengthening himself through prayer, penance and the effective use of the Word of God. Hence, during this Lent, let us confront our evil tendencies by prayer (especially by participating in the holy Mass), by penance and by meditative reading of the Bible. 2) We are to grow in holiness by prayer, reconciliation and sharing during Lent:    a) by finding time to be with God every day of Lent, speaking to Him in fervent prayer and listening to Him through the meditative reading of the Bible; b) by being reconciled with God through the sacrament of reconciliation and reconciled with others by asking their forgiveness for our offenses; c) by sharing our love with others through selfless and humble service, almsgiving and helping those in need.

Introduction: First Sunday of Lent

Message: Like Adam and Eve, Jesus was tempted, but did not sin.  Our sinfulness is acquitted through one man, Jesus Christ, in whom we are justified.