Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 10, 2019
First Reading: Deuteronomy 26.4-10
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
Psalm 91
1The Praise of a Canticle, of David. Whoever dwells with the assistance of the Most High will abide in the protection of the God of heaven2He will say to the Lord, "You are my supporter and my refuge." My God, I will hope in him3For he has freed me from the snare of those who go hunting, and from the harsh word4He will overshadow you with his shoulders, and you will hope under his wings5His truth will surround you with a shield. You will not be afraid: before the terror of the night6before the arrow flying in the day, before the troubles that wander in the darkness, nor of invasion and the midday demon7A thousand will fall before your side and ten thousand before your right hand. Yet it will not draw near you8So then, truly, you will consider with your eyes, and you will see the retribution of sinners9For you, O Lord, are my hope. You have set the Most High as your refuge10Disaster will not draw near to you, and the scourge will not approach your tabernacle11For he has given his Angels charge over you, so as to preserve you in all your ways12With their hands, they will carry you, lest you hurt your foot against a stone13You will walk over the asp and the king serpent, and you will trample the lion and the dragon14Because he has hoped in me, I will free him. I will protect him because he has known my name15He will cry out to me, and I will heed him. I am with him in tribulation. I will rescue him, and I will glorify him16I will fill him with length of days. And I will reveal to him my salvation
Second Reading: Romans 10.8-13
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
Gospel: Luke 4.1-13
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.