[Salvation]

Sunday Scripture Study

First Sunday of Lent - Cycle C

February 17, 2013

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Opening Prayer  

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10

Psalm: 91:1-2,10-15

Second Reading: Romans 10:8-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 4:1-13

• In this Sunday’s reading, Jesus has just come from being baptized by John the Baptist. It was here that the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon him, and God’s voice from heaven identified him as his beloved Son (Luke 3:21 and following).

• Immediately after this he was led by the Spirit (Mark 1:12 says he was driven) into the desert to be tempted by Satan. His fasting for 40 days calls to mind many significant Old Testament events that also involved 40 days—Noah in the ark (Genesis 7:12), Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:18), and Jonah in Nineveh (Jonah 3:4).

• Jesus’ temptation mirrors that of notable Old Testament figures (Adam, Moses, the Israelites in the wilderness) who were also tempted. The difference is that Jesus is successful in resisting, atoning for the failure of those who came before.

• Jesus shows that he can empathize with us in that he was subject to temptation just as we are (see Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). He also shows us how to resist the devil.

 

QUESTIONS:

• Why were the temptations directed at Jesus immediately after he was affirmed by God at his baptism (Luke 3:22)?

• In each temptation, what was its appeal? Its price? How does Jesus resist them? How are the three temptations similar? How are they different?

• What does it mean to you that all the power and glory of the kingdoms of the world have been given to Satan (verses 5-6. See also John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11)?

• If the devil had three shots at you, what temptations would he use? What resources does God give to help us resist?

• In verse 12, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16. What does it mean to “tempt the Lord, your God”? How is that different from “taking a step out in faith”? What is your own experience in this regard?

• In the First Reading, on the verge of their entry into the Promised Land, Moses reminds the Israelites of all that God has done for them to bring them to this point. How are they to show their gratitude to God once they have taken possession of the land? How do you show gratitude to the Lord for all the good he has done for you? How do you “give to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 21:22)?

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 538-540; 2096; 2119

 

A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either command them, or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil. -St. Dominic

[Salvation]

Remembering Pope Benedict XVI

Pastor’s Column

1^st Sunday of Lent

February 17, 2013

 

 

          Having spent this past week recovering from the worst case of flu I have ever had, I was still flabbergasted to hear this morning that Pope Benedict is resigning! Well, by the time this column appears this will be old news, but I have done a bit of reflecting in the meantime.

 

          We meet the Catholic Church at three levels: the global church, symbolized by the Pope; the local church, symbolized by our bishop; and our parish church, symbolized perhaps best by our church building, and all three of these will be changing in 2013! So we at Saint Ed’s have entered into a place of transition and opportunity.

 

          I want to share with you again some of my best memories of Pope Benedict XVI, which are encapsulated by a picture I took in Saint Peter’s Square of the Pope amid 10,000 priests in June 2010: 

 

 

          As you may remember, the diocese sent me and another priest, Fr. Peter Smith, to represent our diocese at the closing ceremonies of the Year of the Priest at the Vatican in June of 2010. Because there were over 10,000 priests in attendance, the largest concelebrated Mass in the history of the Catholic Church, the Mass was held outside in Saint Peter’s Square rather than in Saint Peter’s itself. Prior to the actual Mass, the Pope made his rounds through the vast crowd of priests slowly in his “Pope-Mobile”…..very slowly. And he went through every aisle twice, so that as many of us as possible could connect with him. I noticed he was making eye contact with us.

 

          I took this picture myself the second time the Pope passed by. I thought to myself, “here is an (at that time) 82 year old man, one who never sought to be Pope and would have preferred another choice, who has risen to the occasion and has sought to renew the church by striving to renew her priests.   This is true for us as well: whatever we are asked to do in life, all that God asks of us is that we try our best! It is up to God to make fruitful our humble efforts.

 

          We at Saint Ed’s have begun the physical transition to an exciting new building. The fences are up! And, on April 2, we will be installing a new archbishop for our diocese, Archbishop Alexander King Sample.  Perhaps by April we will have a new Pope as well. But the church continues, not only because Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, not only because he remains eternally in his Word, but also because he remains in you, the people of Saint Edward, as we journey together through these interesting times.

 

   

 

         

 

          This final picture was taken after the conclusion of the Papal Mass. Though the Pope, Bishop, Pastor or Church Building may change, Jesus remains forever in our hearts. He remains with us forever!

                                                                                       Father Gary