Scripture Reflections for the First Sunday of Lent

“Lord, let me follow you. Help me overcome the mud and choose the Breath of God.”

Mary Ortwein. "Mud or Breath of God?." A Catholic Moment. February 25, 2023

“Yes the devil does not come dressed in red cape and pointy horns. He disguises himself in everything we desire.”

Fr. Lawrence Obilor. "From the garden of Eden to the desert of Judaea: Gap between sin and righteousness." A Catholic Moment. February 29, 2020

“We don’t have to worry about being the best warrior, only a faithful one. For victory is promised and eternal redemption assured to anyone who would fight sin, carry their cross, and follow Jesus.”

Fr. Samuel Burke. "Battle Ready." Torch. February 26, 2020

“our biggest temptation, the one we must never give in to, is the temptation to stay down and give up. The temptation to stop fighting.”

Joseph LaCombe. "The First Sunday of Lent." A Catholic Moment. March 5, 2017

“although in sinning, we reject God’s love and friendship, God never rejects us...The Incarnation shows once and for all that mankind is capable of being friends with God, and Jesus Christ, through His life, death and resurrection, makes this divine friendship possible for the whole of humanity.”

Fr. Robert Verrill. "The Game is Up." Torch. March 1, 2017

“we can understand Christ as offering us an example of how to deal with the Devil and all his snares: act under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and then you’ll avoid the Devil and all his snares”

Fr. Dominic Ryan. "An Embarrassing Story?." Torch. March 9, 2014

“One of the greatest temptations for those of us who live in comfort, have steady employment, and fulfill our civil, religious and family responsibilities is to do things our way. We often attribute success to our individual way of doing things. Depending on God can be something we say in prayer, but find hard to practice.”

Tom McGuire. "First Sunday of Lent." Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. March 9, 2014

“On the cross Jesus unites himself to each one of us as we are faced with the choice between life and death: do I grasp hold of the world beneath me, asserting my power and control over it, or do I return it in love to the one who has given it in love?”

Fr. David Goodill. "He Looks Down on the Earth." Torch. March 13, 2011

“His time in the wilderness was not an exploration, but a triumphant march through the territory of the enemy, sweeping away the bonds of our slavery to sin”

Fr. Richard Ounsworth. "The Enemy's Country Laid Waste." Torch. February 13, 2005

“On Calvary sin and death seemed to come to the brink of defeating Christ. Yet, in reality, Christ’s obedience in love to the Father cancelled out the disobedience of sin, and by his death Christ exhausted death, pouring forth new life in the Resurrection.”

Fr. Martin Ganeri. "Life and Love, Death and Sin." Torch. February 17, 2002