DAILY- HOMILY

MARCH 13, 2011
1ST SUNDAY OF LENT – A

Gn 2:7-9, 3:1-7 / Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 / Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12,
17-19 / Mt 4:1-11

GENESIS 2:7-9, 3:1-7
Then Yahweh God formed Man, dust drawn from the clay, and breathed
into his nostrils a breath of life and Man became alive with breath.
God planted a garden in Eden in the east and there he placed Man whom
he had created. Yahweh God caused to grow from the ground every kind
of tree that is pleasing to see and good to eat, also 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 craft y of all the wild creatures
that Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say:
You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" The woman said to the
serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden, but of the
fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden God said: You
must not eat, and you must not touch it or you will die." The serpent
said to the woman, "You will not die, but God knows that the day you
eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing
good and evil." The woman saw that the fruit was good to eat, and
pleasant to the eyes, and ideal for gaining knowledge. She took its
fruit and ate it and gave some to her husband who was with her. He ate
it. Then their eyes were opened and both of them knew they were naked.
So they sewed leaves of a fig tree together and made themselves
loincloths.

ROMANS 5:12-19
Brothers and sisters: Therefore, sin entered the world through one man
and through sin, death, and later on death spread to all humankind,
because all sinned. As long as there was no law, they could not speak
of disobedience, but sin was already in the world. This is why from
Adam to Moses death reigned among them, although their sin was not
disobedience as in Adam's case – this was not the true Adam, but
foretold the other who was to come. Such has been the fall, but God's
gift goes far beyond. All died because of the fault of one man, but
how much more does the grace of God spread when the gift he granted
reaches all, from this unique man Jesus Christ. Again, there is no
comparison between the gift and the offense of one man. The
disobedience that brought condemnation was of one sinner, whereas the
grace of God brings forgiveness to a world of sinners. If death
reigned through the disobedience of one and only one person, how much
more will there be a reign of life for those who receive the grace and
the gift of true righteousness through the one person, Jesus Christ.
Just as one transgression brought sentence of death to all, so, too,
one man's good act has brought justification and light to all; and as
the disobedience of only one made all sinners, so the obedience of one
person allowed all to be made just and holy.

MATTHEW 4:1-11
At that time, the Spirit led Jesus into the desert that he be put to
the test by the devil. After spending forty days and nights without
food, Jesus was hungry. Then the devil came to him and said, "If you
are the Son of God, order these stones to turn into bread." But Jesus
answered, "Scripture says: one does not live on bread alone, but on
every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took
Jesus to the holy city, set him on the highest wall of the temple, and
said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for
scripture says, God has given orders to his angels about you. Their
hands will hold you up lest you hurt your foot against a stone." Jesus
answered, "But scripture also says: You shall not put to the test the
Lord your God." Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and
showed him all the nations of the world in all their greatness and
splendor. And he said, "All this I will give you, if you kneel and
worship me." Then Jesus answered, "Be of f, Satan! Scripture says:
worship the Lord your God and serve him alone. "Then the devil left
him, and angels came to serve him.

REFLECTION
Jesus' experience in the desert tempts him with power, possessions,
and lording it over others. But Jesus' kingdom is not one in which he
has power. Jesus opts for love, service, reconciliation, attention to
the poor, the sick, the misfits in society and people in misery. He
could and wanted to choose what kind of Messiah he was going to be. He
was going to be the Messiah the way his Father meant him to be, the
humble servant of God and the people. His choice was clear. Jesus left
the desert as the great Jesus of the Gospel.

The 40 days of Lent this year should be a time in which we go and
rediscover the Christian virtues and values that we have forgotten.
Lent is a time in which we take our baptism seriously, without sparing
ourselves but giving ourselves in love to our family and others. Lent
is a time in which we re-evaluate the cravings of our hearts. Do we
crave for more material things, power and influence for selfish ends?
All this is certainly not Christian.

Lent is a time in which we look to see whether, in our lives,
everything is all right. Have we been just and fair in our own world?
Lent is a time of healthy self-criticism of our social system, from
which values, sensitivities and morality are obscured and eliminated.
Do we believe that things and people are valuable only when we can use
them or use them for ourselves?

Lent is a time for deciding to change our lifestyle and match it with
the lifestyle of Jesus. It is not a time of giving up candy and
cigarettes; the change must come from within us. Then what is external
will follow. Happiness, joy, simplicity have to become ordinary and
not extraordinary human values and beauty.

Lent is a time in which all of us will dare to search again the forgot
ten values of Christian living in our own families, way of thinking,
parenthood, faith, love, in our profession and in our
responsibilities. This kind of fasting is not limited by the old law
binding from the age of twenty-one to sixty. If we are genuine
Christians, no matter our age, we will want to return regularly to our
roots so that we can encounter the person of Jesus Christ in the
desert.

Throughout Lent let us create a silence within us, to look at
ourselves as if from the outside, to moderate our outward activities
and distractions. Doing so, we will hear Jesus knocking on the door of
our hearts and open our hearts to let him enter and change our hearts
this Lenten season.

Let us pray that we go God's way with our heart. Let us not let this
opportunity pass.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Nel de Leon
- Susan Seratan
… for the personal intentions of:
- Josheil Dapo
- Flora B
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Cynthia Cuaderno-Venturanza.
Eternal rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her.
May she and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Robert Salvador
- In Memoriam (+): Feron Yang Lon +
- In Memoriam (+): Sr. Theresa Rillo, SPC
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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