First Sunday of Lent Collect Year A

The Collect for the First Sunday of Lent reads as follows:

 

" Grant almighty God,

through the yearly observation of holy Lent,

that we may grow in understanding

of the hidden riches of Christ

and by worthy conduct pursue their effects".

 

 

 

 



In making this prayer tangible the following questions emerged:

1. What does the yearly observance of Lent mean to me?

2. What areas in my life do I wish to grow during this Lent?

3. What are the hidden riches of Christ?

4.  How can I pursue their effects?

 

 

The second half of chapter 4 relates to Jesus' mission. You will note that Jesus fasted first, then was tempted  by the devil (vs 1-11).

 

What were those temptations and how do they relate to us you might ask?

 

The three temptations of Christ essentially invite Jesus to be a false Messiah.  He is urged to:

• be a Political Messiah,
• be a powerful Ruler.
• consider the human privileges of wealth and glory and power that would flow from being a political Messiah.

We can be tempted to think that this temptations do not related to us at all.  We don't want to be a powerful ruler or a political Messiah.

 

However we can experience these temptations in many guises these days  such as

1. bringing God down to our level rather than  reaching up to God in dependence and trust.
2. Prayer can be used a bargaining tool, or seeing faith as an insurance policy or to prize religion for the respectability it can give.
3. trusting in ourselves whilst pretending to be following our faith with devotion and real love and trust of God.
4. Not using our wealth and talent for the benefit of others but parading it as a status symbol.
5. We can also use wealth well by giving it to a great cause/need but the whole world knows of our generosity.  Our left hand should not know what the right is doing in this regard- we need to give in secret.

Then we all suffer from our own temptations which we may conquer sometimes and then we fall again.  Lent is a great time to review our spiritual lives and consider what our temptations are really.

Then when we can name them and ask God's forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation will we be able to move forward in trying again to conquer them.  However, we don't need to try under our own effort alone. God wants to help us in our weakness and as Corinthians 1:13 says:

 

"God keeps His promises.  He will not let you be tested beyond your strength.

Along with the test, He will give you a way out so that you may be able to endure it".

 

ACTION PLAN FROM CHAPTER 4
This week as we reflect on chapter 4- part of today's Gospel  we may wish to:

•  Consider how the devil tempts us and how we reject his invitation to sin. What is our Achilles heel/ our constant sin?
• Consider our ability to fast to strengthen our souls. It is important to take on what is practical, since not everyone is physically able to fast from food without becoming sick. If you know, like myself that fasting from food is impractical for health reasons, then consider other ways of fasting. Perhaps your favourite TV programme or just smaller serving of food eaten slowly and reflectively thinking of Jesus and his love for us.
• Consider marking off in the diary time for a retreat. Even a retreat at home is possible if time is set aside and family respect and are supportive of our needs.
• Consider our vocation and what Jesus has called us to do.  How do we encourage others to follow Jesus?
• Consider how we can bring the ministry of healing to others whether through intercessory prayer and/or through the gift of healing that we may possess. How can we continue the healing mission of Jesus?

How does our action plan compare with Jesus?  May Chapter 4 inspire us to consider how we are continuing the ministry of Jesus and to follow His action plan-preparation of soul through fasting, experience trials and temptations of the devil, before preaching the Good News and engaging in ministry of healing.

 

 

So what will your action plan for this first full week of Lent be?