Today's Gospel Reading - February 17, 2013 with Reflection

1^ST READING - Deuteronomy 26:4-10

P S A L M - Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15

R: Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (R) 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall         affliction come near your tent, 11 for to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. (R) 12 Upon their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shalltread upon the asp and the viper; you shall trample down the lion and the dragon. (R) 14 Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and glorify him.(R)

2^ND READING - Romans 10:8-13

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

 

Luke 4:1-13

1 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live on bread alone.’” 5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’” 9 Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written: ‘He willcommand his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and: ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” 13When the devil had finished every temptation, he departedfrom him for a time.

SABBATH

ON HUMILITY   The First Sunday of Lent always has a Gospel reading on the “Temptation of Jesus.” This event in the life of Jesus is chronologically rendered by the evangelists as one that immediately followed the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River. It happened at the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus, three years before His Passion and Death. St. Luke clarified the liturgical association of an event in the ministry of Jesus that seemed remote in time in connection to Lent. He ends his narration of the temptation of Jesus in this statement: “And when the devil had finished all his tempting he left him until an opportune time.” The Passion and Death of Jesus is regarded as the opportune time when the devil came back to tempt Jesus. All the three temptations started with a premise: “If you’re the Son of God....” On the cross, Jesus would be taunted in like manner: “If you are God’s Son, get down from that cross and we will believe!” During the Passion, Jesus was again tempted by the devil to run his earthly ministry according to the ways of the world—that is, through the display of power and self-glorification as a means of asserting oneself. The core of every human temptation is the exaltation of the self, underscoring of one’s privileges over anything and everything, unbridled pride and self-worth. Jesus, in contrast, shows us a different way. Though He was truly God like the Father, He did not deem equality with God, something to be grasped, but He emptied Himself and took the form of man, and was found human in appearance, being obedient even to the point of death (cf Philippians 2:5ff). In all circumstances, it is humility that extinguishes man’s tendencies to abuse, to violence and to vengeance. It saves us from even practicing seemingly right but aggressive ways that often make one regret later. Humility leads us to instrospection, to gentle ways, to compassion amidst anything. With these, we can never go wrong. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How tolerant are you when people challenge not just your ways but your self-worth? What signs of being aggressive are you prone to manifest when threatened? How do you deal with yourself in such situations?   Lord Jesus, grant me a gentle spirit and humble heart to always act with compassion. Seven Founders of the Order of Servites, pray for us.

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