Sunday Scripture Readings

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, FEBRUARY 29 Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Psalm 91; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13 OUR GOOD NEWS: Salvation through faith for all humankind — "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Luke considered Jesus’ temptation as the final episode by which Jesus was prepared for His public ministry, and so it is well suited for the beginning of Lent. "The desert" recalls a place of intimate communion with God (present in cloud and fire to guide the Israelites during 40 years of wandering), but also the abode of wild beasts and demons — the beginning of Israel’s apostasy. Jesus, however, had been "filled with the Holy Spirit" since His baptism, and consequently gave Himself completely to its guidance ("led by the Spirit"). The Spirit’s leading as well as the devil’s temptations extended throughout the 40 days of fasting. The devil began with logic rather than skepticism — "if" means "granted that" or "presuming" He was "the Son of God." The first temptation seemed modest enough, only one stone into a single loaf of bread. But Jesus unmasked and dismissed this seduction through a quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3. The Israelites had yearned for Egyptian fleshpots, but instead were miraculously fed by God with manna and quail. Human need has salvific potential. It can demonstrate one’s utter dependence upon God alone, who has His own way of giving and supporting life. Jesus refused to use His power for personal interest and apart from the Father’s intentions. Already in the desert, Israel had looked to alien gods, enticed by their apparent power. Jesus too was tempted to switch allegiance, to acknowledge someone other than the Father as lord and master, by accepting worldwide dominion from another source. Instead, to this second temptation Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, recognizing God as sole and universal king, refusing a spectacular self-manifestation that would conform to popular but misguided expectations from someone sent from God. The devil’s strategy suffered further exposure in the climactic final scene. Since Jesus twice unmasked his enticements through guidance from Scripture, the adversary counterattacked with not one but two biblical quotations from today’s psalm (verses 11-12). The Israelites demanded water in the desert. The Lord graciously responded with a miracle, but Moses warned against such sinful testing of God. Jesus by contrast refused to demand protection for Himself and His mission. In each temptation Jesus showed careful obedience to His Father’s will, steadfastly refusing to use the power and authority granted Him as Son of God. During 40 years in the desert, Israel had set a precedent of disobedience ratified by subsequent generations. Jesus symbolically experienced the same testing. His "hunger" rendered Him more vulnerable, but subjection to the "Spirit," along with guidance of Holy Scripture, caused Him to triumph. The devil then departed, biding his time until he could destroy his enemy through Judas (Lk 22:3). That attack was likewise destined to be thwarted, because it would elicit from Jesus the greatest and most perfect act of fidelity! For us too God permits temptation to test our dependence and obedience. Like Jesus, we rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and of divine law, found in the Bible and Church teaching.

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