Fr. Thomas Leitner shared his homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent. Click below for the video:
Mt 4:1-11
Gen 2:7-9;3:1-7
Rom 5:12-19
Focus: Through the redemption in Jesus Christ, we have found anew community with God.
Function: Nevertheless, temptation and sin are still a reality in our lives and need to be confronted.
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
In his Rule for monks, the founder of our order, St. Benedict, enjoins on the novice master to pay attention to the following in a person who is interested in joining the monastery. Quote: “The concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God, and whether he shows eagerness for the Work of God [the Liturgy of the Hours, the daily prayer times], for obedience, and for trials. Benedict wrote his Rule in Latin. The Latin word for obedience, obedientia, is related to the word audire, which means hearing. Is he ready and willing to listen to God in prayer and to listen to the abbot, the prior and the other monks, to what they have to say? – Trials, this word stands for readiness to do simple and menial work and for readiness to accept correction. Whether he seeks God…This points us the central topic of the Season of Lent: Seeking God.
Today’s first reading tells us about the creation of the first human from clay and divine Spirit, about the dwelling of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and about their expulsion from there as a consequence of sin. The intention of the Biblical author apparently is to address questions and problems of human life: Why is there so much suffering among humans and finally death? The answer: God doesn’t want death; human beings themselves choose death by turning away from God, the source of life.
Today’s gospel presents us with the person of Jesus. For forty days, Jesus was tempted, that is, examined, tested, by the devil in the desert. Adam had given in to the temptation. The people of Israel were tested by God himself in the desert and didn’t pass the test. So they had to stay there for forty years. Jesus, however, did not succumb to the temptations. He was completely human and experienced the human hunger for wealth, for honor and for power and for influence over people. But he withstood—with the mighty help of God’s word.
Finally, in today’s second reading, St. Paul explains to the Christians in Rome the new era that has begun for us in Jesus Christ. The disobedience of Adam lead to death, the obedience of Christ has opened for all the way to life, to lasting communion with God.
Dear sisters and brothers in the Lord, Through our redemption in Jesus Christ, we have found new communion with God. Nevertheless, temptation and sin are still a reality in our lives and need to be confronted.
We stand at the beginning of Lent. St. Benedict wrote, “our life should be a continuous Lent.” Since few, however, have the strength for this he urges the monks and all of us “to wash away in this holy season the negligence of other times” (RB 49:1-3). Lent is a time of cleansing, a time of leaving behind bad and sinful habitsand of training good habits that make us freer to serve God and other people. A good confession can help us to evaluate our lives before God,and to make corrections wherever needed.
“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” What are our ways of receiving nourishment through God’s word? Would it be a good idea for us to set aside a little time every day during Lent and to read Holy Scripture, for instance, the Gospel of Matthew, from which the Sunday gospels are taken during this liturgical year? Are we able to attend daily mass sometimes during Lent?
Lent is a time of fasting, of restraint in food and drink and in other areas. But in a certain sense also a time of joyous feasting. Here are some more ideas for Lenten fasting and feasting:
Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within you.
Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from anger; feast on patience. Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on Divine order. Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Good choices like these during Lent and beyond will help us to turn to God, to seek God. Proper fasting and feasting during Lent help us to become open to God, and, in order to use St. Benedict’s words again, “to expect … Easter in the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
~Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB