Reflection for Sunday 9th March 2025

The First Sunday of Lent

Deuteronomy 26.1-11, Romans 10.8b-13, 

Luke 4.1-13

As we enter this first Sunday of Lent, our readings invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the power of God’s word. The journey of Lent mirrors the journey of Israel, the journey of Christ in the wilderness, and ultimately, our own journey of faith.

In Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people of Israel to bring their first fruits before the Lord, acknowledging that all they have is a gift from God. This passage is a call to gratitude, but more than that, it is a call to trust. The Israelites had wandered in the desert, endured hardship, and finally entered the Promised Land—not by their own strength, but by God’s faithfulness. In response, they were to give back to God with joyful hearts. Lent is a time to examine our own trust in God. Do we recognize all we have as a gift from Him? Do we offer our lives back to Him in gratitude, or do we hold back out of fear?

St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, speaks of faith not just as belief, but as a confession of trust in Christ. He writes, “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart.” Faith is not just about knowing; it is about proclaiming and living out that trust. He assures us that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This is a reminder that God’s mercy is available to all. But do we live as people who truly trust in that mercy? Do we proclaim our faith through the way we live?

Then, in Luke’s Gospel, we see Christ in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. Each temptation challenges trust: Will Jesus rely on His own power or on the Father? Will He seek earthly glory or remain faithful to His mission? The devil twists Scripture, offering shortcuts to power and satisfaction, but Jesus responds with the true word of God. His response is not just knowledge of Scripture but complete trust in the Father’s plan. His victory over temptation is not just for Himself—it is an example for us.

We, too, face temptations in our daily lives: the temptation to seek security in wealth rather than God, to chase worldly success instead of holiness, to look for quick fixes instead of trusting in God's timing. Lent calls us to confront these temptations and, like Christ, to place our trust fully in God’s word.

This Lent, let us deepen our trust in God. Like the Israelites, let us offer our lives in gratitude. Like Paul, let us proclaim our faith boldly. Like Christ, let us resist temptation by clinging to God’s word. Perhaps this means letting go of something that holds us back, or embracing a new practice of prayer, fasting, or charity. Whatever it is, let this be a season where we learn to rely on God more completely, knowing that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Blessings and prayers,

Emma