IMITATING JESUS THE OBEDIENT SON
INTRODUCTORY RITES
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We cannot gather as usual for the Eucharist. But we are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: At a first communion liturgy, the celebrant asked the candidates who their hero was. The answers: Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Virat Kohli! The liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent presents Jesus, the new Adam, as the one to imitate and follow.
We pray that our prayer and penance during Lent may help us become more like Jesus the obedient Son.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have imitated the first Adam, we ask the Lord to forgive us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you rejected serving yourself
and chose to serve your Father and his people: Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you rejected impressing people
and chose the humble way of the cross: Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you rejected power and wealth
and made love the foundation of the kingdom of God: Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: Lord our God,
in every age you call a people
to hear your word and to do your will.
Renew us in these Lenten days:
washed clean of sin
and sustained by your living bread,
may we remain true to our calling
and serve you alone.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Psalm Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
Response Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Reading 2 Romans 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19
Acclamation
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
Gospel Matthew 4:1-11
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
What are your thoughts and feelings when you read about the three temptations that Jesus faced and his responses to the tempter?
Sunday Snippets
In a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, Calvin tells his dad: “So long, Pop! I’m off to check my tiger trap! I rigged a tuna fish sandwich yesterday, so I’m sure to have a tiger by now!”
His dad replies: “They like tuna fish, huh?”
Calvin says: “Tigers will do anything for a tuna fish sandwich!”
The final frame shows Hobbes, hanging by his foot from a tree, munching a tuna fish sandwich and saying: “We’re kind of stupid that way.”
Adam and Eve were kind of stupid that way! They wanted to be like God and made a foolish decision: instead of enjoying all that was “very good”, they chose the forbidden.
Temptation came to them at three levels: physical (“good for food”); emotional (“a delight to the eyes”); and intellectual (“desired to make one wise”). But the foundation of the temptation was the doubt about God’s word: “Did God say…?” and the blatant denial of God’s word “You will not die.”
Like Adam in the garden, Jesus is subject to three tests in the wilderness. But unlike Adam, Jesus does not succumb. After his baptism, Jesus is clear about his identity as the Son of God and does not make stupid choices which prevent him from living his identity.
The three temptations in Matthew’s account reflect the three tests Israel faced. Israel, called “son” by God, failed each test; Jesus, the obedient Son, rejects the devil’s short-cuts and remains steadfast to God. Jesus
- refuses to mistrust God; refuses to exploit his power to provide himself with bread instead of waiting for bread from heaven; manifests his total dependence on God.
- refuses to seek proof of God’s presence with him.
- affirms his uncompromising and undivided loyalty to God.
Our needs and desires – physical, emotional, intellectual – could become channels for temptation. And we will fall if we fail to nourish ourselves with God’s word, which comes to us in the scriptures, in the teachings of the Church, in the advice of parents and elders, and in the innocence of children.
What is my tuna-fish sandwich? How/when do my legitimate needs become channels for temptation? What prevents me from living as God’s son/daughter?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Would it be a better world if humans did not have the freedom to choose? Knowing that people would not always resist the temptation to choose evil, why did God give humans free will?
Reading 2: We hear at Easter, “O happy fault! O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!” St Paul says in today’s reading that the gift is much greater than the transgression. Why did God go to this extreme to save us?
Gospel: How does it feel to think Jesus had to fight temptation the same way I do?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Sisters and brothers, as Christians, we place our trust in God alone. Mindful of his care for us, we now pray with confidence: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the leaders of the Church: that they may nourish their people with the Word of God and the Bread of Life, we pray to the Lord…
R: For world leaders: that they may not be deceived by empty promises of power and earthly glory, but keep their hearts focused on God, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who struggle with attraction to wealth, power, and control: that God may free their hearts and guide them to a life of faith and trust, we pray to the Lord…
R: For those appearing for their board examinations: that their efforts be brought to fruition, we pray to the Lord…
R: For better stewardship of creation: that we may recognize land, water, and air as God's gifts to all the human family and be good stewards of them, we pray to the Lord…
R: For ourselves: that the Spirit deepen our identity as God’s beloved and help us to live as his obedient daughters and sons, we pray to the Lord…
L: God our Father, your Son showed us how to reject temptation through obedience to your word and will. Fill us with grace to be faithful to you during this Lenten season and throughout life. Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Jesus
take us to the desert and stay with us.
Speak to our hearts about all that matters.
Chase away everything that doesn’t.
Caress our hearts so
they know you better,
see you more clearly
in the suffering of your children and your planet.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: 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.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
