LED BY THE SPIRIT TO RENEWAL
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather together as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
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: Spring is a time of renewal; we see new beginnings in nature. It is no coincidence, then, that the Church celebrates Lent during spring… because Lent is a time of renewal and new beginning.
We pray, on this first Sunday of Lent, that the Spirit may lead us to a renewal.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have been unwilling to begin anew, we ask the Lord’s mercy.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you allowed the Spirit to lead into the desert:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you resisted the easy way to prove your identity:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you invite us to renew our lives:
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.
Opening Prayer
L: Lord our God,
you alone do we worship;
only your word gives life.
Sustain your Church on its Lenten journey.
When we walk through the desert of temptation,
strengthen us to renounce it and renew ourselves.
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 Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Psalm Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15
Response Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Reading 2 Romans 10:8-13
Acclamation
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word,
that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
Gospel Luke 4:1-13
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are in desert and the devil tempts me. What are the ways he might tempt you? How would you respond?
What are your thoughts and feelings about the temptations Jesus faced and his responses?
Sunday Snippets
From Dante’s View in the United States, one can journey down to the lowest spot in the US, Bad Water, or one can move to the highest peak, Mount Whitney. From Dante’s View, any movement must be in one or the other direction: downwards or upwards.
Dante’s View is symbolic of where we stand at the beginning of Lent: a time for choice, for deepening our understanding of our faith, for reflection and renewal.
Lent – and today’s liturgy – challenges us to take the uphill path. The liturgy talks about a new beginning for Israel, for Jesus and for us.
For Israel: In the first reading, Moses speaks to the Israelites at the end of their desert sojourn. He asks them to offer the first fruits of the land as a thanksgiving to God and prepares them for their new life in the promised land.
For Jesus: Led by the spirit, Jesus spent forty days in the desert, a preparation for his mission, and then was tempted. The temptation was a test before his new life; it was very real because the messiah was expected
- to bring bread down from heaven (the first temptation);
- to subject other kingdoms to Israel (second); and
- to perform dazzling signs to prove his credentials (third)!
These were areas where Jesus faced temptation all through his public life. Jesus resisted the easy way to prove he was the Messiah and chose the uphill way.
For us: Lent is a time of renewal. When we think of temptation, we think of sexual sins, lying, anger. But the dangerous temptations are to want, for their own sake,
- wealth: the desire to turn anything into “bread”, and the attitude of relying not on God but on one’s resources;
- status: the desire to make everyone look up to me;
- power: the ability to manipulate people and things for my own ends.
Wealth, status and power, for their own sake, reduce other people to things that can be used for my gain. These foster the prevalent materialistic creed of our society… and not the biblical creed: you shall worship the Lord your God and him alone shall you serve!
On this first Sunday of Lent, we stand at “Dante’s View”. Which way will I go? May the Spirit lead us towards the Lord!
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: What good things came out of the Israelites’ desert sojourn? Metaphorically speaking, do I find the “desert” a fearful place or a place where I could find myself and grow?
Reading 2: In the places in which I live (in the parish, at work, with family/friends), do I proclaim the Lord? If yes, in what way? If not, what prevents me from such a proclamation?
How can my parish proclaim itself an “island of mercy” in a sea of indifference?
Gospel: Going to the desert helped Jesus hear the voice of God. Where/ what is my “desert”? What areas of my life need renewal?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Jesus allowed the Spirit to lead him to the desert and thus overcame the power of evil and began life anew. We ask the Lord for the strength of the Spirit to overcome temptation and renew ourselves, as we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that the Spirit may lead us closer to God and help us grow as his faithful children, we pray…
R: For the world: that God may bring an end to violence in Ukraine and the Middle East, we pray…
R: For our human family: that we may resist the temptation to discriminate against the poor, the immigrant, the elderly, and the unborn, we pray…
R: For all who are struggling with life: that God may send angels to assist and support those who are ill, those who are struggling with addictions, those who have lost meaning in life, and those who are considering suicide, we pray…
R: For greater care of creation: that inspired by God’s covenant with every living creature, we may be good stewards of the eco-systems that support life in all its forms on earth, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that despite temptations, we may remain faithful to God and answer his call to serve him and his people, we pray…
L: Father, our source of strength in every temptation, hear our prayer. Grant that in all our needs, we may rely on you. We ask this 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
Lord,
if I must walk the desert dunes
to enter the promised land,
then take me by the hand
and lead me, as you did Moses.
Lead me to the desert
and speak to my heart.
Strengthen me to resist temptation
especially the temptation to wealth, status, and power,
for their own sake,
and the temptation to use people for my gain.
Help me to resist
disinterest in others, eco-injustice, racism, violence.
Fill me with your love.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Lord God,
lead us with your Son
to the desert of questions and temptations.
Speak to our heart
and bring us back to you in loving trust.
Open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts
to discard all that leads us astray.
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:
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