The failure of man – Sin!

First Sunday of Lent

The failure of man – Sin!

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L-Ewwel Ħadd tar-Randan

                               Il-Falliment tal-Bniedem - id-Dnub                                               

Messalin A pp 131 

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. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 2, 7-9a; 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 Is-serp kien l-aktar wieħed li jilħaqlu fost l-annimali selvaġġi kollha, li kien għamel il-Mulej Alla. U qal lil-mara:  "Tassew li Alla qalilkom:  "La tiklux mis-siġra 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 tmissuħ, 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 fl-għajn,  u s-siġra tħajrek biex tikseb id-dehen; u ħadetmill-frott u kielet. Imbagħad tat ukoll lil żewġha, li kien magħha, u kiel. U nfetħu għajnejhom it-tnejn u ntnebħu li kienu gherja, u ħietu weraq tat-tin u għamlu iħżma. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm              

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

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, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

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, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

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, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

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, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Salm Responsorjali

Salm 50(51)

Ikollok ħniena minni, O Alla, fi tjubitek;

fil-kobor tal-ħniena tiegħek ħassar ħtijieti.

Aħsilni kollni mill-ħtija tiegħi,

naddafni, mid-dnub tiegħi.                                

R/     Ħenn għalina Mulej, għaliex dnibna.    

Għax jien nagħrafhom ħtijieti;

id-dnub tiegħi dejjem quddiemi.

Kontrik biss jiena dnibt,

u dak li hu ħażin f'għajnejk għamilt.                    

R/     Ħenn għalina Mulej, għaliex dnibna.    

Oħloq fija qalb safja, O Alla,

u spirtu qawwi ġedded fija.

La tw3arrabnix minn quddiemek;

tneħħix minni l-ispirtu qaddis tiegħek.   

 R/     Ħenn għalina Mulej, għaliex dnibna.   

Roddli l-hena tas-salvazzjoni tiegħek,

u bi spirtu qalbieni wettaqni.

Iftaħli xufftejja, Sidi ,

u fommi jxandar it-tifħir tiegħek.                       

R/     Ħenn għalina Mulej, għaliex dnibna.    

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. This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ittra ta' San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani 5, 12-19

Ħuti, kien permezz ta' bniedem wieħed li fid-dinja daħal id-dnub, u permezz tad-dnub il-mewt, u hekk il-mewt laħqet il-bnedmin kllha, għax kollha dinbu. Kienet għada 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 Mose', imqar fuq dawk lima 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 Ġesu' 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 mogħtri fuq dnub wieħed,  wassal sal kundanna, iżda d-don mogħti wara ħafna dnubiet iwassal għall-ġustifikazzjni. Għax jekk minħabba fil-ħtija ta' wieħed waħda saltnet il-mewt permzz 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 Ġesu' 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' bnniedem wieħed   il-ħafna saru midinbin, hekk ukoll bl-ubbidjenza ta' wieħed il-ħafna jsiru ġusti. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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 him, "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. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Evanġelju

Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 4, 1-11

F'dak iż-żmien, l-Ispirtu ħa lil Ġesu' fid-deżert biex  ix-xitan iġarrbu.   U Ġesu' baqa' sajjem għal erbgħin jum u erbgħin lejl, u fl-aħħar ħdu l-ġuħ. U resaq it-tentatur u qallu:  "Jekk inti Bin Alla ordna li dan il-ġebel isir ħobż."   Iżda Ġesu' wiegbu: "Hemm miktub:  'Il-bniedem mhux bil-ħobż biss jgħix, iżda b'kull kelma li toħroġ minn fomm Alla." Imbagħad 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  "Lill-anġli tiegħu jordnalhom jieħdu ħsiebek,  u li fuq idejhom jerfgħuk, ħalli ma taħbatx riġlek, ma' xi ġebla." Qallu Ġesu':  "Hemm miktub ukoll:  "Iġġarrbx lill-Mulej Alla tiegħek." Għal darb'oħra x-xitan ħadu miegħu fuq muntanja għolja ħafna, urieħ is-saltniet kollha tad-dinja u l-glorja tagħhom, u qallu: "Dawn kollha nagħtihom lilek jekk tinxteħet tadurani." Imbagħad qallu Ġesu':  "Itlaq, Xitan!  Għax hemm miktub: "Lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, għandek tadura u lilu biss taqdi."  Imbagħad ix-xitan ħallieħ.  U minnufih ġew xi anġli u kienu jaqduh. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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COMMENTARY by Julian Paparella

How do you solve a problem like temptation?

It seems almost scandalous to think that Jesus experienced temptation. We think of temptation as something shameful, something that only happens to us and not to others, something that distances us from God.

But in the Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent we see Jesus tempted in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus is led into the desert and there He is subjected to the confusing and manipulative tactics of the Enemy.

Jesus was like us in every way except sin. But sin and temptation are not the same thing. Jesus was tempted, He did not sin. What can we take from this for our own fight against temptation? How do we avoid sin even when we experience temptation?

Living with God is not a cakewalk. Sometimes we can have an image of the Church as a place of sweet-sounding hymns and sweet-smelling flowers, where the holy and the pious congregate to polish their perfection and venerate great saints whose lives seem impossibly heroic. But this is not the spiritual life.

The spiritual life is a combat. It is tough. It is hard work. We are not God, but God wants to make us more and more like Himself. This brings tremendous joy, but also growing pains. It requires effort on our part, but most importantly it requires grace. We will be tempted, but this does not scandalize God. God wants to help us overcome our temptations to make us better. God does not tempt us; God brings us through temptation. We cannot do it alone; we need God.

After Jesus rejects the devil’s seductive advances the third time, we read: “Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him” (Matthew 4:11). The punchline of this Gospel is that temptation is not endless. God has the last word. His grace will always prevail. The devil will not win in the end: the angels are on their way.

Encouraged by this Gospel reading, there are three practical ways that can help us avoid and overcome temptation throughout this Lenten season.

First, pray to God. Pray for His grace to help through whatever is tempting. Ask for His mercy. God is with you and He loves you. He is not scandalized or discouraged by imperfection. Praying not only opens us to receiving God’s help, it will also bring us closer to God.

Second, take practical steps. For temptations that recur time and time again, finding concrete ways to overcome and avoid can be a huge help. Eating a banana split is no longer tempting when we’re no longer staring it right in the face. Take the banana split away. Walk away from the banana split. Find ways of avoiding the banana split. See it for what it really is: some semi-solidified cold milk with a random fruit and some gooey liquid that increases your chances for diabetes. This may seem extreme when speaking of dairy desserts, but it can come in handy.

Third, see with God’s perspective. See that you are a child of God. See that God wants you to be holy. “His patience is in the direction of our salvation” (2 Peter 3:9). See that your holiness is far more valuable than whatever appears attractive in your temptation. The value of gold increases when it is tested by fire, it does not diminish. Overcoming temptation makes us stronger not weaker. Temptation becomes a sin when use our will and say “yes.” Otherwise, we should simply do as Taylor Swift does and “Shake it off.” The fact that a thought enters our mind is not sin. Being attracted to something evil is not sin. Saying yes to this evil attraction is sin.

And even when we do sin, we are not without hope. We have a Saviour who has been tempted Himself. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). May Jesus strengthen our resolve to be holy and bring us His mercy throughout this season of Lent. Especially when we are most in need, let us approach His throne of grace with boldness. The Lord is there to help us in the battle. He has already won the war.

(This teaching was submitted by Julian Paparella, a member of the editorial team of Fr Thomas Rosica’s Salt & Light media)

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