Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Psalm 91
Romans 10:8-13
The emphasis of the readings today is on confession, the acknowledgement of what God has done for us. The First Reading (from Deuteronomy) gives the ancient ritual of presenting the first fruits at Passover, with the accompanying liturgical monologue: “My father was a wandering Aramean…” The climax of this text is “God brought us out of Egypt with His strong and outstretched arm…therefore I have now brought You the first fruits of the soil which You, O Lord, have given me.” The Responsorial Psalm, in the fourth stanza, is the answer to this recital: “Because he clings to Me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges My Name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will deliver him, and glorify him.” The Gospel for this day is the account of the temptation of Jesus, in which Jesus in His human nature is tested by Satan. St. Ambrose of Milan says of this: “He did not act as God, bringing His power into play; if He had done so, how could we have availed of His example? Rather, as man He made use of the resources which He has in common with us.” (Expositio Evangelii secundum Lucam) In the Gospel, Jesus quotes the psalm that we sing as the Responsorial Psalm today; the psalm also reflects what God has done through Jesus. The Second Reading makes theology out of the concept of confession: telling us that Jesus (the one who was crucified) is LORD (raised from the dead by God the Father). As our Elect prepare for the sacraments of initiation, we all need to be confronted with this basic belief of Christianity, which is the core of our hope, because “everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”
In the Rite of Initiation of Adults, today is the day of the Rite of Election, celebrated at the cathedral church of the diocese. Today, the catechumens are sent from their individual parishes to meet with the bishop of the diocese, and to enroll their names in the Book of the Elect as candidates for the Paschal sacraments.
This hymn is based on today’s Scriptures:
As Israel from Egypt came
By Yahweh's mighty hand,
And found, where milk & honey flowed,
A new and fruitful land,
So Jesus came through desert waste
Midst tempter's wiles and schemes
By faithfulness to God alone,
Defeating pow'r-mad schemes.
As Lent unfolds its gifts of grace
We know God's Word is near;
With Christ, our life, as sure defense,
We rise beyond our fear.
Short Meter (86.86.)
suggested tune: Azmon
Propers from the Roman Gradual
The propers from the RG make extensive use of Psalm 91, because of the use of this psalm in the Matthean version of today’s gospel. While the psalm is not quoted in the Marcan version of the temptation, the Church sees the pericope through the lens of these words. The “he” of the psalm is, in the singing of the Church, Christ. “I” is God the Father. By extension, then, “he” is every person who is in the desert of the Fast today, and God’s promise of delivery belongs to all the believers, both those who are already baptized and those who today become the Elect.
Introit: Invocabit me (Ps. 91:15-16a)
He shall call upon me and I will hearken unto him;
I will deliver him and bring him to honor.
With length of days will I satisfy him.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
Offertory: Scapulis suis (Ps. 91:4)
The Lord shall defend you under his pinions,
and under his wings you shall find refuge.
His faithfulness and his truth shall be a shield and buckler.
Communion: Scalpulis suis (Ps. 91:4)
The Lord shall cover you with his pinions,
And under his wings you shall find refuge.
His faithfulness and truth shall be a shield and buckler.
Propers from the Simple Gradual
The First Sunday of Lent can use any of the Ash Wednesday
suite, BFW 48–58.
Entrance: The Litany of the Saints BFW 663–675,
recommended for the entrance song on this Sunday
(see Performance Note on pp. 419 and 426–427)
or BFW 61 (When you call to the Lord . . .)
Response: BFW 63 (Beneath God’s wings you will take refuge)
or BFW 64 (Because I have sinned against you)
or BFW 214 (The Lord will teach the lowly his ways)
or tract BFW 66
Gospel acclamation antiphon: BFW 75 or 65
Offertory: BFW 67 (When you give alms…)
Communion: BFW 69 (Lord, listen to my cry)