1st Sunday in Lent
Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Romans 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13
The first Sunday in Lent brings Luke’s version of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. When Luke mentions Jesus’ state of hunger in verse 2, it reminds me of the “Snickers Bar” commercial. We are usually not the same when we are hungry. We lose focus and become less responsive and more reactive to situations. Chances are we would not pass the devil’s first test. The Son of God, full of the Holy Spirit that descended upon him a few verses back, refuses his own power and remains steadfast. In his reply to satan, the Christ teaches us the first lesson in the third gospel: “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” God speaks nourishment to us (see Deuteronomy 8:3).
So much so that the author of Deuteronomy prescribes a liturgy for when the time comes to harvest the very first fruits of the ground (26:2). After decades of being nourished by the manna the Lord spoke into existence, they were to acknowledge that they were slaves in the land of Egypt (6) and that the Lord alone, after hearing their cry and seen their oppression (7), freed and brought them to abundance (8-9). Then God’s people should celebrate and include the aliens living among them, for they were once aliens in Egypt (verse 5; see also Exodus 22:21; 23:9; Leviticus 19:34).
The words of Paul evoke the ancient tradition of extending hospitality to the stranger and preserving their dignity: “… there is no distinction … the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:12-13).’”
The Psalmist proclaims:
“You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
Because you have made the LORD your refuge,
The Most High, your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent (Psalm 91:1-2, 9-10; NRSVue).”
Bridging Faith 