First Sunday of Lent
Call to worship
This is the time of fulfillment. We begin the holy season of Lent Facing our human temptations with the support of our faith and the love of God ready to change our lives for the better.
- To the point: Twice the devil entices Jesus to give into temptation by saying, “If you are the Son of God …” Jesus is divine, but he is also fully human. Jesus resists the devil’s temptation to put aside his humanity and act like God, thus remaining true to himself and to why he came. But Jesus’ resisting the temptations has implications for us, too. By fully embracing his humanity Jesus lifts us up to be who we are in our relationship with God. Only from this relationship do we have the inner strength and conviction to make right choices in face of the temptations that are an inevitable part of being human.
- Connecting the Gospel (Luke 4: 1-13) to the second reading: In the Gospel the devil sets himself up as Lord when he tempts Jesus to worship him. Paul reminds us in the second reading that Jesus is the One whom we are to profess.
- Connecting the Gospel to our experience. All temptation presents us with a choice in the face of a perceived good. We are able to see through the ruse of the perceived good to the inherent selfishness of all temptation when we spend our lives deepening our sense of who we are in relation to God.
Centering prayers
The Gospel
(Luke 4: 1-13)
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days.
Holy Spirit, lead us, please, to Christ’s desert.
Speak straight into our hearts. Be our one nourishment.
Source of all energy. Fill us with your love.
Help us to resist eco-injustice, racism,
and our disinterest in others. Instead, let us always bring
good news to the poor, as you did with Jesus.
The First Reading
(Deuteronomy 26: 4-10)
He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm,
with terrifying power, with signs and wonders.
If we must walk the desert dunes to enter your heavenly land,
flowing with milk and honey, then, please take us
by the hand and lead us, as you did Moses.
The Second Reading
(Romans 10: 8-13)
One confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
In what we say, in what we do not say,
let us all proclaim that you are Lord.
We all call upon you and shout with glee that
you are risen from the dead.
(And that so will we be, too.)
Copyright © 2022, Anne M. Osdieck
Music for reflection