Meditation on the First Sunday of Lent
Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16; Romans 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13
Lent is a period of 40 days observed by many Christians as a time of fasting, prayer, and repentance leading up to Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday (did you know that Sundays are not counted in the 40 days, as they are considered days of celebration?). The 40 days are a reference to the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil.
It is fascinating that the first lectionary reading in Lent for Year C is a familiar passage near the end of Deuteronomy, reminding God's people to be thankful for the gift of the Promised Land. What does this have to do with Lent?
On the other hand, the Gospel reading for this week is the quintessential Lenten passage about the temptation of Christ himself. How do these very different messages both reflect Lent?
In popular culture and much of Christianity, Lent is often viewed as a period for sacrificing something as a sign of repentance. For example, the longstanding custom of abstaining from meat on Fridays illustrates this practice. But is that all there is to it? The Deuteronomy lesson suggests otherwise.
Reflection, fasting, abstinence, prayer, and contemplation are common aspects of Lenten practice, but what is their purpose? The purpose is to prepare us for Easter. Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, this period allows us to uncover our better selves—those that are loving, generous, thankful, kind, forgiving, and fearless—the type of self described in Deuteronomy, the self that offers the first fruits at the altar.
Godspeed on your Lenten Journey for 2025. Through prayer and worship, reflection and repentance, don't just give something up; give something back to the Lord, the giver of all gifts.
From Temptation to First Fruits
This Lenten thing, what is it?
To give something up
Or to give something back?
The answer, it appears,
Is “yes”
(Somehow this is related to the logic of
the first shall be last
And the last shall be first.
Somehow…)
On this Sunday
Do we start with the temptation
Or with first fruits?
Or vice-versa?
We are tempted
To ignore Deuteronomy
In lieu of Luke, or even Romans
But then we should be prepared not to be tempted!
Thus, it appears that both are appropriate for Lent
To prepare for Easter by
Presenting God our best selves
And repenting our temptations
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