Sunday Reading Reflections:

February 10, 2008
First Sunday of Lent

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

As we begin the season of Lent, the first reading takes us back to the biblical story of the beginnings of the human race. In poetic images the author gives a picture of God modeling a clay figure, forming it into the shape of a human being and breathing into its nostrils life-giving breath. Then God plants a beautiful garden in which the first two human beings can be perfectly happy. But the serpent, a symbol of evil, tempts Adam and Eve to be "like gods" in their knowledge of good and evil. They choose to disobey God's will, and at that moment their innocence vanishes.

Discussion Questions for Reading 1:

This is the story of the first sin, symbolized by the eating of the forbidden fruit. Lent is a time to look at sin and its consequences. How would you describe sin? Here it is described as disobedience to God. There are also other ways to think of it. One that comes to mind is "quick fix." We want something in an easy way, or something for ourselves, or something to be smoothed over, or perhaps something hard to be avoided, and a sinful solution appears, compliments of the "Adversary." (Adversary means someone who is against you. This name refers to Satan, the devil.) Thoughts like this come to mind: "This is only a little bit wrong. It will somehow turn out all right later." However, the quick fix usually turns out to have some kind of painful consequence that may, with God's grace, take a long time to make right. Without naming names, can you think of some examples?


READING 2: Romans 5: 12, 17-19
Reading 2 Reflection:

Paul says that just as sin and death came through Adam, salvation and life came through Christ. If Christ had not come into the world, the Genesis story would have had a tragic ending. But Jesus is the "new Adam" whose grace is always more abundant than evil in the world. Thanks to Jesus, sin is never a hopeless situation.

Discussion Questions for Reading 2:

Thanks to Jesus, our sinful situations can be made right again. Jesus brought us God's forgiveness and God's peace. Think now of some "hopeless situations" you know of. Take time now to pray for the forgiveness and peace that Jesus Christ has brought to us. Bring these broken situations to Jesus, and pray to be an instrument of his peace in every situation of pain. Pray together: Lord, your grace is always stronger than sin and death. We place our hope in you. Amen.


Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
Gospel Reflection:

As Jesus prepares to begin his ministry, he enters a kind of spiritual "training camp." Alone in the desert, he fasts and prays for forty days. When the devil tries to ambush him with three temptations to disobey God's will, Jesus is well armed. He defends himself with the word of God by quoting from the Book of Deuteronomy. He refuses to be tricked by false promises of power and glory.

Discussion Questions for Gospel:

Lent can be a spiritual training camp for us today. It is a time to practice using God's word as our defensive weapon against temptation. What spiritual training plans will you put into practice during Lent? Prayer and fasting are traditional. Today's passage from the gospel might suggest that we spend a few minutes each day in reading Scripture. Or are we trying to live on bread alone?

Reflection by: CYBERFAITH "Catholic resources for the People of Faith"