Daily Readings - Sun Mar 10 2019

⁴And the priest, taking up the basket from your hand, shall place it before the altar of the Lord your God⁵And you shall say, in the sight of the Lord your God: ‘The Syrian pursued my father, who descended into Egypt, and he sojourned there in a very small number, and he increased into a great and strong nation and into an innumerable multitude⁶And the Egyptians afflicted us, and they persecuted us, imposing upon us the most grievous burdens⁷And we cried out to the Lord, the God of our fathers. He heard us, and he looked with favor upon our humiliation, and hardship, and distress⁸And he led us away from Egypt, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with a mighty terror, with signs and wonders⁹And he led us into this place, and he delivered to us the land flowing with milk and honey¹⁰And because of this, I now offer the first fruits of the land which the Lord has given to me.’ And you shall leave them in the sight of the Lord your God, and you shall adore the Lord your God

Romans

Chapter 10

⁸But what does Scripture say? "The word is near, in your mouth and in your heart." This is the word of faith, which we are preaching⁹For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and if you believe in your heart that God has raised him up from the dead, you shall be saved¹⁰For with the heart, we believe unto justice; but with the mouth, confession is unto salvation¹¹For Scripture says: "All those who believe in him shall not be confounded.¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is over all, richly in all who call upon him¹³For all those who have called upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

Luke

Chapter 4

¹And Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan. And he was urged by the Spirit into the wildernes²for forty days, and he was tested by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days. And when they were completed, he was hungry³Then the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, speak to this stone, so that it may be made into bread.⁴And Jesus answered him, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ⁵And the devil led him onto a high mountain, and he showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time⁶and he said to him: "To you, I will give all this power, and its glory. For they have been handed over to me, and I give them to whomever I wish⁷Therefore, if you will worship before me, all will be yours.⁸And in response, Jesus said to him: "It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him alone.’ ⁹And he brought him to Jerusalem, and he set him on the parapet of the temple, and he said to him: "If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here¹⁰For it is written that he has given his Angels charge over you, so that they may guard you¹¹and so that they may take you into their hands, lest perhaps you may hurt your foot against a stone.¹²And in response, Jesus said to him, "It is said: ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ¹³And when all the temptation was completed, the devil withdrew from him, until a time

Sermon

In today’s readings, we journey through themes of gratitude, faith, and temptation, each offering insights into our relationship with God. The first reading from Deuteronomy recounts the Israelites' history, from their humble beginnings in Egypt to their deliverance and the gift of the Promised Land. This passage is part of Moses' farewell speech, urging the people to remember God's providence and to express gratitude through the offering of first fruits. It reminds us to reflect on our own journey, acknowledging God's hand in our lives. The second reading from Romans emphasizes the universality of salvation. Paul highlights that faith is not just an inward belief but also a public confession. He underscores that all, regardless of background, can call upon the Lord and be saved. This teaching challenges us to share our faith openly and to embrace the unity Christ brings, transcending any divisions. In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness. Jesus, though hungry and vulnerable, resists the devil's offers by relying on Scripture. This narrative illustrates the essence of faith—trusting God's word above worldly allurements. It serves as a model for us to remain steadfast in our faith, especially during trials. These readings intertwine to remind us that faith is both personal and communal. Like the Israelites, we should gratefully remember God's blessings. Like Paul, we must confess our faith courageously. And like Jesus, we must trust God's word in the face of temptation. May we apply these lessons daily, nurturing a faith that is thankful, courageous, and unwavering, guiding us to live as true disciples of Christ.