First Sunday of Lent: 05 March 2017

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Bestow on us, we pray, O Lord, a spirit of always pondering on what is right and of hastening to carry it out. And, since without you we cannot exist, may we be enabled to live according to your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity if the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 (NLT)

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil came and said to him,

“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said,

“If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say,

‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

“I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

Jesus told him, “Get out of here, Satan.” “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: you are not the author of temptation, but you allow us to be tempted even as Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. His temptations are our temptations as well – food, fame and fortune.

Thank you for providing for our daily physical needs – food, clothing and shelter. And, even more importantly, thank you for providing for our spiritual needs through your Word written. Ground us in the Scriptures that we may escape the devil’s deceit.

You alone are worthy of receiving all glory, honor, power – and fame. In you, we live and move and have our being – our identity is in you. Fill us with faith, confidence and wonder at everything you do in us, or through us. Teach us humility, that Jesus may increase and we may decrease.

Discipline us in godliness during this Lenten season that we may store up treasures in heaven, even as we receive the wealth of true contentment with our lot here in this life. Keep us focused on your eternal Kingdom, as pilgrims living and working in the passing kingdoms of this world.

Heavenly Father: protect us from the wiles and deceit of the devil, and send us your angels to care for us – that we may love and serve you with undivided devotion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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“”Jesus I Believe”” – Big Daddy Weave

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Closing:

“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.

“I am the Lord; that is my name! – Isaiah 42:6-8a

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Format adapted from Lectio Divina: USCCB Lenten Resources, 2017