Readings for March 9th, 2014

First Sunday of Lent

Lectionary: 22

L-Ewwel Hadd tar-Randan       

Messalin A pp131

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

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

1 Qari     -      GeNesi 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Il-Mulej Alla sawwar il-bniedem mit-trab ta' l-art u nefaħlu fi mnifsejh nifs il-ħajja, u 

l-bniedem sar ħlejqa ħajja.   U l-Mulej Alla ħawwel ġnien fl-Għeden, in-naħa 

tal-lvant, u qiegħed hemm il-bniedem li kien sawwar.  U l-Mulej Alla nibbet mill-art 

is-siġar kollha li jpaxxu l-għajn u bnina għall-ikel; u s-siġra tal-ħajja f'nofs il-ġnien u 

s-siġra ta' tagħrif it-tajjeb u l-ħażin.   U s-serp kien l-aktar wieħed li jilħaqlu fost 

l-annimali selvaġġi kollha, li kien għamel il-Mulej Alla. U qal lill-mara: ̋Tassew 

li Alla qalilkom: 'La tiklux mis-siġar kollha tal-ġnien'?̏   U l-mara wieġbet lis-serp: 

 ̋Mill-frott tas-siġar fil-ġnien nistgħu nieklu. Imma mill-frott li hemm f'nofs il-ġnien,  

Alla qalilna: 'La tiklux minnu, u lanqas ma għandkom tmissuh, inkella tmutu.'    U 

s-serp qal lill-mara: ̋Le, żgur ma tmutux. Imma Alla jaf li dak in-nhar li tieklu minnu 

jinfetħu għajnejkom u ssiru bħal allat, li jafu t-tajjeb u l-ħażin.”   U l-mara rat li s-siġra 

kienet tajba għall-ikel u tiġbdek fil-għajn, u s-siġra tħajjrek biex tikseb id-dehen; u 

ħadet mill-frott u kielet. Mbagħad tat ukoll lil żewgħa, li kien magħha, u kiel.  U nfetħu 

għajnejhom it-tnejn u ntebħu li kienu għerja, u ħietu weraq tat-tin, u għamlu iħżma.

Responsorial Psalm        PSALM 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17

R/ (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.                               R/

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”         R/

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.      R/

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.   R/

Salm Responsorjali   -   SALM 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17

R/   Henn ghalina Mulej ghaliex dnibna

Ikollok ħniena minni, o Alla,

fi tjubitek; fil-kobor tal-ħniena tiegħek ħassar ħtijieti.

 Aħsilni kollni mill-ħtija tiegħi;

naddafni mid-dnub tiegħi.         R/  

Għax jien nagħrafhom ħtijieti;

id-dnub tiegħi dejjem quddiemi.

 Kontrik biss jiena dnibt,

u dak li hu ħażin f'għajnejk għamilt.     R/  

Oħloq fija qalb safja, o Alla,

u spirtu qawwi ġedded fija.

 La twarrabnix minn quddiemek;

tneħħix minni l-ispirtu qaddis tiegħek.      R/  

Roddli l-hena tas-salvazzjoni tieghek

U bi spirtu qwalbieni wettaqni

 Iftaħli xufftejja, Sidi,

u fommi jxandar it-tifħir tiegħek.      R/  

Reading 2               ROMANS 5:12-19

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

2 Qari     -       RuMANi 5:12-19

Għalhekk, bħalma kien permezz ta' bniedem wieħed li id-dinja daħal id-dnub, u permezz tad-dnub il-mewt,  u hekk il-mewt laħqet il-bnedmin kollha,  għax kollha dinbu...  Kienet għadha ma waslitx il-Liġi, id-dnub kien ġa fid-dinja: imma d-dnub ma kienx magħdud,  ladarba Liġi ma kienx hemm.  Madankollu l-mewt saltnet ukoll minn Adam sa Mosè, mqar fuq dawk li ma waqgħux fid-dnub li fih kien waqa' Adam, li kien xbieha ta' dak li kellu jiġi. Imma d-don m'huwiex bħall-ħtija. Għax jekk permezz ta' ħtija waħda mietet il-kotra,  aktar u aktar issa l-grazzja ta' Alla u  d-don mogħti bil-grazzja ta' bniedem wieħed li hu Ġesù Kristu,  xterdu  bil-bosta fuq il-kotra.  U d-don anqas ma hu bħall-frott ta' dak il-wieħed li dineb; għax tassew, il-ġudizzju mogħti fuq dnub wieħed wassal sal-kundanna, iżda d-don mogħti wara ħafna dnubiet iwassal għall-ġustifikazzjoni.   Għax jekk minħabba fil-ħtija ta' wieħed waħdu saltnet il-mewt, permezz ta' dak il-wieħed, aktar u aktar dawk li jirċievu l-kotra  tal-grazzja u d-don tal-ġustizzja  għad isaltnu fil-ħajja permezz ta' wieħed li hu Ġesù Kristu.  Mela kif bil-ħtija ta' wieħed waħdu waslet il-kundanna fuq il-bnedmin kollha, hekk ukoll bl-opra tal-ġustizzja ta' wieħed waslet lill-bnedmin kollha  l-ġustifikazzjoni tal-ħajja. Għax kif bid-diżubbidjenza ta' bniedem wieħed il-ħafna saru midinbin, hekk ukoll bl-ubbidjenza ta' wieħed  il-ħafna jsiru ġusti. 

Gospel        -         matthew 4: 1-11

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

Vangelju       -         mattew 4: 1-11

Mbagħad l-Ispirtu ħa lil Ġesù fid- deżert biex ix-Xitan iġarrbu.  U Ġesù baqa' sajjem għal erbgħin jum u erbgħin lejl, u   fl-aħħar ħadu l-ġuħ.  U resaq it-tentatur u qallu: "Jekk inti Bin Alla, ordna li dan il-ġebel isir ħobż."  Iżda Ġesù wieġbu: "Hemm miktub, Mbagħad ix-Xitan ħadu miegħu fil-Belt imqaddsa, qiegħdu fuq il-quċċata tat-tempju, u qallu: "Jekk inti Bin Alla, inxteħet għal isfel; għax hemm miktub li,   Qallu Ġesù: "Hemm miktub ukoll,  Għal darb'oħra x-xitan ħadu miegħu fuq muntanja għolja ħafna, urieh is-saltniet kollha tad-dinja u l-glorja tagħhom,  u qallu: "Dawn kollha nagħtihom lilek jekk tinxteħet tadurani."  Mbagħad qallu Ġesù: "Itlaq, Xitan! Għax hemm miktub,  Mbagħad ix-Xitan ħallieh. U minnufih ġew xi anġli u kienu jaqduh.

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COMMENTARY: by Larry Broding, www.word-sunday.com

 

What little delights in life tempt you? Are they hard to resist? Why?

Diet or indulgence. Exercise or relaxation. Fiscal management or a little extravagance. Luxury tempts us to give in and enjoy life. Every small temptation, however, exposes the means (the "how") of a larger temptation. Jesus's encounter with Satan details means and substance of temptation. Like Luke, Matthew presented the temptation of Jesus in three areas: food, mighty deeds, and power. Each represent a style of Messiahship that Jesus rejected. In his denial of each, Jesus defined what sort of Messiah he would be.

Before we look at the Temptation itself, we must answer the question: why are we tempted? To test our true character. Sometimes we need testing even after a life changing experience of God. After such a blinding revelation, we might seek a retreat to place that insight into the context of life. The retreat would provide us a time of testing, a time to find our personal resolve. After Spirit came upon Jesus in his baptism, the Spirit led (literally "drove") Jesus into a desert retreat so he could, indeed, measure his own resolve. [4:1-2]

There, Satan tested Jesus not only with food, mighty deeds, and power. Satan tempted the Lord with three popular views of the Messiah: care-giver, wonder-worker, and source of power. In the first scenario, Satan challenged Jesus with his baptismal title (And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17). If Jesus was truly God's Son, Satan declared, then he could provide food for himself and all the people. He could become the Savior of material needs, like the State under communism. But, Jesus responded with Scripture (Deuteronomy 8:3). Salvation can not be found in materials goods (food, clothing, shelter); it can only be found in a faith relationship with God. [4:3-4] The Messiah would not provide a social "safety net."

"Alright," the devil seemed to say, "prove your Father is worthy of trust. Throw yourself down from the highest point of the Temple. If you are truly God's Son, your Father should save you" Satan not only challenged Jesus's title, he tested the trust relationship the title implied. The Son would not merely place himself in the hands of the Father, as a private matter. The way he placed that trust would show others the way to the Father. Proof of trust must then be public. Using the same mode of arguing Jesus employed in the first temptation, Satan even quoted Scripture to make his point (Psalm 91:11-12). [4:5-6]

Satan was half-right. Jesus would prove his trust of the Father in public. But, Satan wanted a great sign of wonder that would lead people only to Jesus. Amazed, the people would praise the Wonder-Worker. Then, Jesus' pride would swell and the Father would be trapped doing the Son's bidding. In the end, Satan would have conquered the power of the Father through his Son. And, he would have used pride to drive a wedge between them. The ministry of the Son would end even before it began.

Of course, Jesus saw through the ruse. God cannot be tempted, otherwise he would not be GOD! Using Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16), Jesus stated this obvious fact. [4:7]

Finally, Satan tempted Jesus on the top of a mountain, a symbol of close contact with God. The devil had the audacity to tempt Jesus in the presence of his Father not by pointing up (to God) but by pointing down (to the world). Even within the so close a proximity to God, Satan tried to usurp His place. "Worship me," the devil seemed to say, "and be the source of all worldly power. Be my son, not His." [4:8-9]  Again, Jesus rejected Satan's advance through Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:13). [4:10] In the end, Satan could not use physical cravings, pride, or lust for power to turn Jesus from his Father and his mission.

What are the great personal temptations people face? What lies or illusions convince people to give into temptation?

In the same way he tempted Jesus, Satan tempts us with hunger, pride, and a lust for power to turn away from God. He appeals to the ego, paints false mental images of a glorified self, and twists logic to gain his way. Evil uses evil means to gain an evil end. God challenges us to see evil as it truly is, not as the illusion it pretends to be.

Some temptations are harmless, others are truly perverse. If we know the true nature of our character, the means with which we are tempted, and the assistance God offers us, we can, with God's help, battle personal temptation.

What are my personal temptations? How has God helped me in the past to battle these temptations? How can he help me in the future?