We are called to resist

Readings for Sunday March 13, 2011

First Sunday of Lent

We all face temptations don’t we? As for myself, I ask God every day for the strength to help me get through the day. Why? Because I am a sinner, I am tempted daily to sin in ways that hurt others and hold me back from being everything I can be.
Although you and I have given in to temptation, we are called to resist the devil’s empty promises. Satan tempts you and me as He did Christ, but with a different twist. Satan is always subtle: That means he wants to make the evil attractive to us so that we can make our own decision to sin. He knows that if he shows how bad he really is, that we would not be attracted to him. So he takes something good but uses it in a way that is evil.
Even though the devil is powerful, we have a power greater than evil on our side. We have the power of God’s love on our side. To be free from Satan’s temptations, we must stay close to Christ. In Jesus, we have nothing to fear.
Today’s Gospel shows Jesus struggling with temptation. A born leader, he was tempted to abuse his power. Many people in Israel were waiting for a messiah—a word we understand as Savior—to lead a violent revolt against Rome. But he knew God called him to do greater things.
How about you? Each person faces different temptations. What tempts you to be selfish and tempts you away from doing great things for God? Lent is a time to explore that question in your soul, to see where you have surrendered to temptation and where you need God’s strength to resist those temptations.
Here is an idea: List your six greatest temptations and then reflect on one each week during lent. Remember times you gave in. Remember times you resisted. Brainstorm ways to avoid the particular temptation you are focusing on. Look at what the Bible says about it. Ask God for the vision to see temptation clearly the next time you face it and for the strength to resist it. Our invitation this Lent is to make Jesus the center of everything we do. May Jesus’ words back to the devil be our words when we are faced with temptation: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve.

When has giving in to temptation hurt you? How does giving in to temptation keep you from being the person you think God wants you to be?


Reading 1 Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

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. 8 Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,and placed there the man whom he had formed. 9 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. 3:1 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?” 2 The woman answered the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 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.’”4 But the serpent said to the woman:“You certainly will not die!5 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.” 6 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. 7Then 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.

Reading 2 Romans 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19

12 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— 13 for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all. 19 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.

Gospel Matthew 4:1-11

1 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. 3 The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” 4 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.” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6 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.” 7 Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” 8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
9 and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” 10 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.” 11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

1. Under what a circumstance was Jesus tempted: After a spiritual high? At a weak moment? At a new stage in life?

2. In each temptation what was its appeal? Its price? How does Jesus resist them? How does satan’s use of scripture differ from the way Jesus uses it?

3.How are the three temptations similar? Different?

4.Why were the temptations directed at Jesus Immediately after he was affirmed by God at his baptism? (Luke 3,22) “And the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

5.If the devil had three shots at you, what three temptations would he use?
What can help you resist? What encouragement does this story provide?

6.Why would it be inaccurate to say, ‘the devil made me do it’ when we sin?

Why would it be inaccurate to say that God tempts us?

Why, then, would God allow us to be tempted? What good comes from being tempted?

7.Lent is a time of renewed commitment to holiness and keeping away from sin. What will you
be doing this Lent to help be closer to Christ and farther away from sin?