March 9, 20141st Sunday of Lent A

1st reading: Genesis 2,7-9; 3,1-7Creation of Man / Setting• 2,7 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. 8 Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and he placed there the man whom he had formed. 9 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 bad.

Temptation• 3,1 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?" 2 The woman answered the serpent: "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 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.'" 4 But the serpent said to the woman: "You certainly will not die! 5 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 bad." 6 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. 7 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.

The focus is on the temptation.

1st reading: Genesis 2,7-9; 3,1-7

Creation / Setting 2,7 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. 8 Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and he placed there the man whom he had formed. 9 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 bad.

CommentaryThe text comes from the second

story of creation (2,4b--3,24).The first creation story (1,1-2,4a)

God creates man out of clay and his breath. v.7

God also creates a garden and settles the man there.v.8

God again creates. This time he creates trees. v.9Delightful to seeGood for food

There are two trees of special interest:Tree of lifeTree of the knowledge of good and

evil.

Temptation 3,1 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?" 2 The woman answered the serpent: "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 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.'" 4 But the serpent said to the woman: "You certainly will not die! 5 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 bad."

In 3,1 the author (Yahwist) personifies the serpent. The author makes him speak and talk to the woman.

The serpent asks a seemingly innocent question, but truth is, he plays on the woman’s weakness (or challenges God’s authority).

In vv.2-3, the woman entertains the cunning serpent (snake) and this is a big mistake.

In vv.4-5, the serpent again speaks in a more convincing manner. He subverts the threat of death.He assures of the good effect once

she will eat of it. Their eyes will be opened. They will become like gods who know

everything (merismus: good and bad)

The Fall6 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. 7 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.

V.6 reveals the woman’s inner craving for three reasons: Good for food Pleasing to the eyes Desirable for gaining wisdom

In v.6b, the woman acts to satisfy her desire. She takes some of its fruit and eats it She also gives some to her husband.

(She does extra.) It is a violation of God’s command.

(Gen 2,16-17)V.7 mentions the unexpected result.

Yes, their eyes are opened, but they have not attained wisdom.

Instead, they see their nakedness (vulnerability).

They are ashamed. They sew fig leaves and make

loincloths to cover their bodies. They do not become like gods.

Reflections on the 1st readingWe must know our limits.We must be wise enough on whom to listen to.We must discern where the voice, inducing us to

do something, is coming from:From God or from our subliminal needs?

If we want to know everything, to taste everything, to always satisfy our appetites, if we want to be like the gods…forget it. We are courting disaster.We are playing with fire.

Let’s learn from the mistake of Adam and Eve.

Resp. Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

3 Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.4 Thoroughly wash me from my guiltand of my sin cleanse me.

5 For I acknowledge my offense,and my sin is before me always:6 “Against you only have I sinned,and done what is evil in your sight.”

12 A clean heart create for me, O God,and a steadfast spirit renew within me.13 Cast me not out from your presence,and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

16 Give me back the joy of your salvation,and a willing spirit sustain in me.17 O Lord, open my lips,and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Resp. Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for

we have sinned.

3 Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.4 Thoroughly wash me from my guiltand of my sin cleanse me.

5 For I acknowledge my offense,and my sin is before me always:6 “Against you only have I sinned,and done what is evil in your sight.”

12 A clean heart create for me, O God,and a steadfast spirit renew within me.13 Cast me not out from your presence,and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

16 Give me back the joy of your salvation,and a willing spirit sustain in me.17 O Lord, open my lips,and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Commentary The psalm is full of parallelisms. A parallelism is a style of saying the same

thing in different ways (different vocabularies).

In v.3, the psalmist, a repentant sinner (supposedly David), asks God for mercy and compassion. (Prayer for Mercy)

In vv.3b-4, three times the psalmist asks God to show his mercy by

Wiping out his offense Washing from his guilt Cleansing of his sin

In v.5, the psalmist admits his offense/ sin. (Admission of Guilt)

In v.6, the psalmist admits that his sin is directed against God and flagrantly he has done evil even in front of God.

In v.12, the psalmist prays for cleansing (=forgiving) and spirit of renewal.

In v.13, the psalmist asks not to be cast out from God’s fold.

V.16 implies that that inner joy returns when there is forgiveness.

V.17 is a prayer to help us pray. It is God who makes us pray.

Reflections on the PsalmReflections on the PsalmWe must learn how to repent from our sins.We do it in the context of prayer.When repenting, we admit our guilt, our sins, our

violations and transgressions.When repenting, we ask for mercy, understanding,

forgiveness, and loveWhen we are forgiven, we should experience serenity and

joy in our heart. We should feel God’s spirit working in us again.

If we are always justifying ourselves by saying “I did not do anything wrong, they are wrong,” we will never repent and we will keep repeating the same mistakes.

Have you ever repented? Have you ever examined your conscience?

Have you ever realized you offended someone by your careless speech, action (body language, foul gestures, patuchada)?

Pray for a good conscience.

2nd reading: Romans 5,12.17-19The coming of sin and death12 Through one man sin entered the world, and

through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

Reign of life through Jesus17 For if, by the transgression of 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 person Jesus Christ.

18 In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. 19 For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous.

The focus is on sin and grace.

2nd reading: Romans 5,12.17-19The coming of sin and death 12 Through one man sin

entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

Reign of life through Jesus 17 For if, by the transgression

of 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 person Jesus Christ.

18 In conclusion, just as through one so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. 19 For just as through the transgression condemnation came upon all, be made righteous. disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will

CommentaryThe reading recalls the fall of

Adam (and Eve) in Genesis. It is a theological reflection on

the first reading.The first parents fall into sin. The

consequence is death.V.12 clarifies that all men and

women die, because they too commit sin. Their death is not attributed solely to the first parents.

V.17 speaks of the redemption of humankind.

Picking up the sin of one man as the cause of death, we come back to life through the merit of one man also, Jesus Christ.

Vv.18-19 further develop the idea of v.17.

Reflections on the 2nd readingJesus dismantles sin and its consequence - death.Christ repairs (undoes) the damage done by the

sin of our first parents.How does he do it?

Through obedience to God’s law.By listening to the voice of the Father.

We are saved from sin and death, by the merits of Jesus Christ.

It is a big favor from God that our sin and guilt are removed from us.

Let us live according to the likes of Christ, not the likes of Adam and Eve.

Gospel reading: Matthew 4,1-11Introduction 1 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be

tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.

Entrance of the Devil: 1st temptation 3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God,

command that these stones become loaves of bread." 4 He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'"

2nd temptation 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the

parapet of the temple, 6 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.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"

3rd temptation 8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all

the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." 10 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.'"

Exit of the devil 11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

A simple outline!

The focus is on the temptations of Jesus.

Gospel reading: Matthew 4,1-11Introduction1 At that

time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.

Commentary In vv.1-2, we are told that Jesus is led by

the Spirit (Holy Spirit), into the desert (arid place, without food, in contrast to the Garden), to be tempted (tested) by the devil (evil one).

He fasted (not eaten anything or no full meals) for 40 days and nights (symbolizing the Israelites’ wandering in the desert for 40 years).

Jesus gets hungry afterwards.Temptations come when there is hunger.Why does Matthew place the temptations

here, not within the ministry of Jesus?According to some interpreters, the

temptations are placed right before his ministry to tell us his method of evangelization.

Will he gain people to God by satisfying the craving and appetite for worldly values (money, power and prestige)?

Gospel reading: Matthew 4,1-11

Entrance of the Devil: 1st temptation

3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." 4 He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'"

.

In v.3, the devil is identified as the tempter. The tempter is subtle. He starts by saying, “If

you are the son of God…” Wow, but did not God tell us during Jesus’

baptism that he is the son of God? And here comes the devil to confuse him and

make him doubt that he is. The devil puts him into a crisis (identity crisis).

The test is a matter of whom to listen to: God or the devil.

In v. 3 the devil says: command these stones to become bread.

Jesus does not listen. He listens to God speaking through the scriptures: “One does not live by bread alone…” v.4 (Dt 8,3).

This is the response of God when the Israelites complain there is no food in the desert.

Hunger should dispose this people to listen to the Word of God.

Gospel reading: Matthew 4,1-112nd temptation 5 Then the devil took him to the holy

city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6 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.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"

3rd temptation 8 Then the devil took him up to a

very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." 10 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.'"

Exit of the devil 11 Then the devil left him and,

behold, angels came and ministered to him.

In vv.5-6, the devil commands: “throw yourself…” he also quotes the bible (Ps 91,12). How dare him! He shamelessly quotes the bible as if he is listening to God.

Jesus does not listen. He listens to God speaking through the scriptures: “You shall not put the Lord to the test.” v.7 (Dt 6,13)

In vv.8-9, the devil says, “I will give you these kingdoms, if you worship me…”

Jesus does not listen. He listens to God speaking through the scriptures: You shall worship the Lord your God…” v.10

V.11 states the defeat of the devil. And come the angels who take care of him.

11stst temptation temptationIf you are the son of If you are the son of GodGod

22ndnd temptation temptationIf you are the son of If you are the son of GodGod

33rdrd temptationtemptation

LocationLocation DesertDesert

No man’s landNo man’s land

(alone)(alone)

Holy City = Holy City = JerusalemJerusalem

Place of worship Place of worship (many people)(many people)

High High mountainsmountains

Vantage pointVantage point

(few people)(few people)

Voice of Voice of the Devilthe Devil

(prioritize (prioritize yourself, yourself, your needs)your needs)

Stone into bread Stone into bread (wealth)(wealth)

Satisfy your craving for Satisfy your craving for material things. You material things. You need them for your need them for your campaign.campaign.

Throw yourself Throw yourself down (prestige)down (prestige)

Satisfy your craving Satisfy your craving to be popular (vanity). to be popular (vanity). You need a name for You need a name for people to follow you.people to follow you.

Worship me Worship me (devil)(devil)

(power)(power)

Satisfy your Satisfy your craving for power. craving for power. You can’t make You can’t make people follow you people follow you if you don’t control if you don’t control the army.the army.

Voice of Voice of God God

Not by bread, but Not by bread, but word…word…You need God’s Word, You need God’s Word, not just material food, not just material food, to live with dignity as to live with dignity as children of Godchildren of God

Do not tempt the Do not tempt the Lord…Lord…Don’t presume God Don’t presume God will save you when will save you when you endanger yourself you endanger yourself by doing foolish by doing foolish stunts.stunts.

Worship God Worship God alone…alone…Don’t betray God Don’t betray God to pursue your to pursue your personal ambition.personal ambition.

For your further observation

Jesus does not fall into any of the traps of the devil. It is very tempting, very convenient, but salvation is not cheaply attained.

Following any of them, to prove himself, will spell disaster to his true identity as the Son of God and his mission to spread God’s reign.

Jesus wants to teach us a new paradigm:Listening to the voice of God always.Never listen to the devil and compromise with it.

Reflections on the gospel reading

Like Jesus, first of all, we must never doubt our identity as children of God.

As such, we must act and decide accordingly.We must do our mission by following God’s way,

not the devil’s way.We must stand guard against entertaining

possibilities of a compromise because of a nice promiseJesus is the model on how to handle temptations.

that comes from an enticing intruder.Once we compromise, give an inch to what

contradicts God, we spell our downfall.

Tying the 3 readings and the PsalmThe first reading talks about Adam and Eve’s fall

into temptation.The psalm is a prayer for mercy, for those who have

fallen into temptation.The second reading talks about the triumph of

Jesus over sin and death. He does not fall into temptation.

The gospel reading demonstrates how Jesus successfully handles the temptations.

How to develop your homily / sharing

Temptations are here to stay.As long as we desire a lot of things, we

are prone to be tempted.And we have more chances of falling into

sin.The “devil” triggers what is inside us (our

inordinate desires and thoughts).

• The first reading demonstrates the innate desire of human beings to know and possess everything (pakialamero, gustong malaman ang

lahat; sakim, gustong angkinin lahat, without limits). • In the process, we lose our innocence and

vitality.• We expose our vulnerability. • We discover that we are not that smart. • We feel ashamed of ourselves. • What we discover put us into trouble.

• The gospel reading demonstrates how Jesus Christ, who is disinterested in wealth, prestige and power and all those garbage, successfully fights against the seductions of the devil.

• His only desire is to do the will of God. He listens to the voice of God.

• The voice of God is to establish God’s reign by: – Listening to God’s Word, not by satisfying

appetites– Living simply and ordinarily, not by trying to

impress– Being focused to the one true God, not to

anything bizarre

If we are not formed by the Word of God, we easily give in to any temptation.

We have no qualms about committing injustices, crimes, blunders and sin.

The voice of God (God’s Word) serves as a reminder for us not to give in to what is evil.

The second reading reflects on the downfall (sin) of the first parents and ours (1st reading) and the victory of Christ Jesus over the devil (gospel).

Sin leads us to death; Christ brings us back to life.

Christ overcomes sin, because he never listens to the devil, nor to himself.

Besides, he has no worldly desires. He too overcomes death.

How do we handle the temptations To grab power?To steal other’s money?To be showy and ostentatious?To be unfaithful to our loved ones because somebody else

is seducing us?To consume what is more than necessary?To buy what we don’t need?To squander our hard earned money?To use our influence to get what we want?

How do we handle temptations when there is no choice?Jesus’ answer is never compromise with the devil (no to

“kapit sa patalim”)We should not desire anything else but God.We take hold of our identity as children of God.We should decide die as children of God, in God’s loving

hands, not to die in disrepute.

The eucharist is the reward for those who resist temptations.

It is the sacrament that celebrates our victory over evil.

The eucharist strengthens us in our fight against temptations.

Frequency in the eucharist assures us of God’s continued support to our journey to holiness and fullness of life.

Our Context of Sin and GraceGiant billboardsCommercialsIndecent suggestionsCompulsive buying,

credit cardsUnlimited access to

information“The public has the

right to know everything.” (using it justify invasion to privacy)

Eavesdropping, snooping, spying

Stealing of secretsGreed (money,

property, power)

Aware of one’s limitations

Listens to the voice of God (God’s Word)

In control of oneself (not easily seduced)

Pure of heartHas simple needsTightly clings to GodUncompromising in

terms of spiritual and moral issues

Nourished by God’s Word