Fr. Craig’s Contemplations

First Sunday of Lent

We contemplate this first Sunday of Lent, the Temptation of Jesus in the desert. Jesus begins his ministry demonstrating He is the consolation and redemption for our ancestors in faith.

The first temptation “command this stone become bread” – shows us that Jesus is fully human, and he too has a need for food. Jesus responds to the evil one, citing Deut. 8:3, “one does not live on bread alone.” It is good to reflect on Hebrews the second and fourth chapter. “Jesus is indeed the Son of God but he experienced temptation as a human being. He shares our humanity in all things except sin. “The result is that He was being tested… yet without sin… He is able to help those who are being tested.”

The second temptation, the evil one then tempts Jesus with “power” – to have glory and power over all the kingdoms of the world on the condition Jesus worships the evil one. Jesus will receive “power and glory, but not from the evil one from God… and His kingdom will last forever.” Yet within God’s plan, Jesus must face the cross to accomplish God’s plan for salvation.

The third temptation, the evil one is so cunning, he selectively repeats parts of Psalm 91. The evil one tries to tempt Jesus into using His own divine power as some sort of show of His divine authority. However, the evil one has chosen the wrong Psalm, as its followings verse predicts his own demise…those words… “you can trad upon the asp and the viper, /trample the lion and the dragon.” Jesus tells the evil one, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” (Deut. 6:16) Brothers and sisters, Jesus fulfills this verse, which recalls the promise of victory after the fall.

Jesus is teaching those then and us today, “resist the evil one, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) And so, what are the remedies for these temptations that even Jesus faced? Prayer, fasting and almsgiving. By fasting we develop new techniques for “spiritual self-control.” By almsgiving, we develop in a better way “detachment from material goods.” And by prayer, especially prayer through the anointed word of God in Sacred Scripture, we learn that we “must humble ourselves before the Lord, relying on His grace.”

God bless you,

Fr. Craig


READINGS FOR MARCH 6, 2022

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

1^st Reading—Deuteronomy 26: 4-10—Moses told the story of the Israelites: The Lord God led them from bondage to freedom. This story should always be recalled before offering gifts to God. The people of God can rejoice over the many good things the Lord has given them.

Responsorial Psalm: 91: 1-2, 1-11, 12-13, 14-15— “Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble, be with me, Lord, I pray.”

2^nd Reading—Romans 10: 8-13—God’s word is on your lips and in your heart. If you proclaim with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe it in your heart, you will be saved. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Gospel Acclamation—Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
“We do not live on bread alone, but we live on every word from our God.”

Gospel—Luke 4: 1-13—Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days. There he ate nothing and was tempted by the devil. Afterward, the devil left him to await another opportunity.


1ST SUNDAY OF LENT - C – MARCH 6, 2022

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

1) Let us pray for the Church:
God, you are our strength in temptation and our hope in sorrow.
May your Spirit guide us through this Lenten journey to Easter life.
          We pray to the Lord….

2) Let us pray peace on the earth:
Lord, you create the earth in its fullness and give life to all people.
Help us share your bounty with one another and bring justice to
          the oppressed and the poor. Be with the people of Ukraine.
          We pray to the Lord…

3) Let us pray for single people:
Lord, bless those who are single. May they always know that you are guiding them in your light.
We pray to the Lord…

4) Let us pray for the sick:
Hear the cry and see the affliction of our ailing brothers and sisters --
Betty Morici          Don Hauser          Kevin Petrusha
Catherine Konen        Mary Siring             Andrea Matusik
Lillian Valentine    Darren McLaughlin       Bud Barnard
We pray to the Lord…

5) Let us remember the dead:

        Jesus, through your death and resurrection, bring our deceased beloved

into your eternal glory, Especially…Bill Borowy, husband of Mimi Josephine Schmidt and…
 (5:00 Mass)  Deacon Tony Morici
(8:30 Mass)  Pohl Family
(10:30 Mass) Tom Saylik, Apolonia Krypel

We pray to the Lord…

ANNOUNCEMENTS – MARCH 6, 2022

1. Stations of the Cross will be prayed on Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m. This Friday, members of the High School Youth Group will lead the Stations. Soup and Bread will be offered afterward in Hardy Hall.

 

2. Holy Land Carvings are here in Hardy Hall with their olive wood carvings and religious articles. Please stop by.

 

3. The quilting and crafting group will meet next Saturday, March 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Solanus Hall.

 

4. From our Religious Ed. Director, we are in need of candy for our Easter Egg hunt. You can leave your donations in the bin available in the gathering area near the large doors.

 

5. Our Soup and Bread dinner will be next Sunday, March 13^th in Hardy Hall from 1 to 3 p.m. Our speaker, Rick Bronder is from Faith Works Michigan, a group of volunteer men, women and youth who assist those in need with home repair and improvements. Please sign up in the book provided in the gathering area if you are attending.

 

6. On Monday, March 14^th, we will offer Morning prayer at 9 a.m. with a brunch to follow.

 

7. The pantry is in need of all cereals, oatmeal, mustard and jelly.

 

8. (Sunday) Please join us in Hardy Hall for coffee, donuts and fellowship.