SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2018
1. I Will Serve
2. Forty Days to Easter
Greeting (See Second Reading)
We are gathered in the name of Jesus.
He brought us life instead of death;
by his obedience he made up for our disobedience.
May his grace and peace be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
1. I Will Serve
When we take a serious look at ourselves, we realize that there are things that keep us from being the persons and the Christians we wish we were. We feel that we are not free to be our true selves. At the beginning of his mission Jesus looked at himself and saw the temptations that would keep him from carrying out his mission. Lent is for us the time to look into ourselves and to see what keeps us from being free to serve and love God and people the way we should. Let us go with Jesus into the desert, look into the depth of ourselves, and with Jesus reject what imprisons us, what keeps us lukewarm and indifferent, so that like him and with him we can serve.
2. Forty Days to Easter
On this First Sunday of Lent we have just begun our journey of forty days to Easter. We are the people of the forty days: the people of God in the Old Testament needed forty years in the desert to grow through their trials and mistakes into the People of God ready for the Promised Land. Jesus spent forty days in the desert in fasting and prayer to prepare himself to make his choice to be the kind of Messiah God wanted. We today are given our forty days, too, to re-examine ourselves before God whether we want to be and are the kind of Christians God wants us to be. We look up to Jesus here among us to see if with him and by his power we are willing to reject the temptations that try to divert us from the task God has given us.
Penitential Act
What keeps us from following Jesus all the way
on the road to God and to people?
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you rejected serving yourself,
for you chose to serve the Father and people’s happiness:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you rejected impressing people
with spectacular actions,
but chose the humble way of the cross:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you rejected power and wealth
but made love and the faith of the poor
the foundation of the kingdom of God among us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins.
Make us reject all temptations with you
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that during this Lent
we may be truly converted
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
in the desert your Son Jesus struggled forty days
with the demands of his mission,
and he overcame all temptations.
In these forty days of Lent
convert us, turn our hearts
to the peace of your forgiveness,
the light of your love,
your concern for people.
Let us find the life and the joy
which Jesus brings us,
and dispose us to share it with others.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading: Tempted from the Beginning
In a symbolical story, the sacred writer says that as far as people can remember they have always been tempted to make themselves their own gods, absolute masters of their own life and happiness. This is the human tragedy.
Reading 1 Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7
The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
and so man became a living being.
Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,
and placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow
that were delightful to look at and good for food,
with the tree of life in the middle of the garden
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals
that the LORD God had made.
The serpent asked the woman,
"Did God really tell you not to eat
from any of the trees in the garden?"
The woman answered the serpent:
"We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;
it is only about the fruit of the tree
in the middle of the garden that God said,
'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.'"
But the serpent said to the woman:
"You certainly will not die!
No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it
your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods
who know what is good and what is evil."
The woman saw that the tree was good for food,
pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.
So she took some of its fruit and ate it;
and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her,
and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened,
and they realized that they were naked;
so they sewed fig leaves together
and made loincloths for themselves.
Responsorial Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
R. (cf. 3a)Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.√
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Second Reading We Are Saved by the Man Jesus Christ
Adam, standing for all of humanity, has spoiled the right relationship with God, other people, and himself. God’s Son, the man Jesus Christ, came to restore this relationship. This is the human tragedy Jesus came to remedy.
Reading 2 Rom 5:12-19
Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.
But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one, the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.
And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned.
For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation;
but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.
Or Rom 5:12, 17-19
Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.
Verse before the Gospel: Mt 4:4B
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Gospel: Jesus Overcomes Our Temptations
Jesus overcame all our human temptations of selfishness, pride and power. He wanted to serve God and save people. In this way he made us capable of humbly serving God and our neighbor.
Gospel Mt 4:1-11
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert
to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry.
The tempter approached and said to him,
"If you are the Son of God,
command that these stones become loaves of bread."
He said in reply,
"It is written:
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God."
Then the devil took him to the holy city,
and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone."
Jesus answered him,
"Again it is written,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test."
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."
At this, Jesus said to him,
"Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve."
Then the devil left him and, behold,
angels came and ministered to him.
Intercessions
Let us pray to the Lord together with all Christians who make with us the effort this Lent to be free for God and for one another, and let us say: R/ Lord, save us by your love.
– For the Church we love, that we may grow together on the road of service and love, let us pray: R/ Lord, save us by your love.
– For those who hesitate when tempted, for those attracted by violence, for those in the chains of evil, let us pray: R/ Lord, save us by your love.
– For those who abuse their power, for those who reject God, for those who refuse to serve, let us pray: R/ Lord, save us by your love.
– For those who are hungry, for those who are persecuted, for the victims of violence, let us pray: R/ Lord, save us by your love.
– For those who doubt, for those who despair, for those who are unfaithful, let us pray: R/ Lord, save us by your love.
– For communities without love, for those who cannot forgive, for those hardened in hatred, let us pray: R/ Lord, save us by your love.
God our Father, we have prayed to you for so many. But we include ourselves too, for we are weak and fallible. Touch us with your love and convert us all, through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
in these humble signs of bread and wine
your Son Jesus comes among us
to help us serve you and people.
May he overcome in us and in the world
the temptation to be rich,
powerful and influential
rather than good and just.
May we learn from him
to do your will and seek your happiness,
for you are our God for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Let us thank the Father for having given us Jesus as one of us. He overcame temptation, and because of him we too can resist evil and live for all that is good.
Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
With Jesus our Lord
let us pray to our Father in heaven
that we may stand the test
of all temptations. R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant us peace with you,
with ourselves and one another.
In the necessary tests of life,
keep us loyal to you
and do not allow us
to trample anyone underfoot.
Help us to build up together
your kingdom of justice and love
until you will bring everything to completion
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, the Lamb of God,
who overcame all our temptations
to bring us justice and life.
Happy are we to be invited
to share his holy meal. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Faithful God,
your Son Jesus was faithful to you and his mission,
even at the cost of his life.
May we go his way of loyal love
to you and to our brothers and sisters.
May we always choose you and life
rather than sin and death
and prefer the good of those around us
above our selfish interests,
as Jesus did, your Son,
who lives with you and with us
now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
In this eucharist we have looked at Jesus
and saw how he went through our temptations
and overcame them.
We have looked at Jesus
and in him we recognize our true selves.
He is the kind of person we, each in one’s own way,
have to try to become.
During our forty days of Lent
we keep looking at him
and try to become more like him,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord in one another. R/ Thanks be to God.
Commentary:
It doesn’t follow ordinary logic. “You are my Son, my beloved one...” And the very next verse, “Then the Spirit drove him into the desert!” We would have expected the Spirit (“the Comforter”) to keep him in comfort! Instead he is driven out from all comfort and security, into the desolation of the Judean desert. The name for that desert was Hinnom, “the Desolation.” What kind of comfort can we expect from the Comforter? But look more closely at the word ‘comfort’. It comes from the Latin confortare, which means ‘to strengthen’; fortis means ‘strong’. Comfort therefore means strength! But modern usage has weakened the meaning with softness and smoothness and gentle touches; in fact, it has come to mean just about its opposite: weakness. Jesus was driven into the desert so that his gift might become his, by being tested. Nothing can be given to us on a plate (except cookies!). There is no contradiction between receiving something as a gift from God and earning it. This is the right season of the year for remembering that!