Daily Readings - Sun Mar 10 2019

⁴Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God.⁵"And you shall make response before the LORD your God, 'A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.⁶And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor.⁷Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.⁸And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.⁹And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.¹⁰And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God.

Romans

Chapter 10

⁸But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.¹¹For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.¹³For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Luke

Chapter 4

¹And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness²for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.³The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."⁴And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"⁵And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,⁶and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."⁸And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'"⁹And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,¹⁰for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,'¹¹and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"¹²And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"¹³And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune 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.