Fr. Paul's Homily - 1st Sunday in Lent (3-6-2022) at St. Mary's

when i was young there used to be a television program a variety show and it was entitled flip wilson flip wilson deeb was a character but played many different characters but his most famous is when he played geraldine jones geraldine jones was well somebody who act i would say in ways that are not the most prudent ways in fact her boyfriend's name was killer and whenever she got in trouble she would say the devil made me do it yet way too often many people blame someone else about their own sins just like geraldine jones but in reality we are complicit in sinning and when we understand that we thereby turn to god repent means turn to we turn to god and seek his mercy we turn to him in times of trouble as our responsorial psalm said and we're reminded in by moses in the book of deuteronomy and the word deuteronomy means a copy or replica he's letting the people know what they are called to do and reminded him exactly what god has done for them that they when they enter the promised land you know are called to take the first fruits of their produce that they provide instead of keeping it for themselves they're called to give it to the priest and give it to give it to god to put god first and then they're called to declare it says that they understand that they were a wandering armenian and that they went down into egypt became a great nation was oppressed by pharaoh and with god's strong arm after pleading with him turning to him god led them out of slavery along the sinai peninsula across the red sea all the way up to the promised land and now they're situated just on the other side of the jordan [Music] and moses is telling the people that when they go into this promised land this is the first thing they're called to do because it's right that they give thanks to god and appreciation for him being with them throughout that 40-year journey 40 years and they came to understand that if it wasn't for god's help they never ever would have made it that god led them by a stronghold and was with them the whole time even when they doubted even when they sinned against god and so it is necessary according to moses that they understand this for if they put god first then they indeed will be protected by god who ensure their safety to ensure the fact that they'll grow and be a great nation it is the need to declare the truth about god that's essential to ensuring life in the promised land in our second reading we hear how saint paul is telling the people that they too must not just believe in their heart but confess with their lips that jesus christ is lord and he is the one who not only saved them of their sins he will deliver them to the new promised land the land flowing with milk and honey the eternal paradise of heaven in our gospel reading today jesus is tempted by the devil after his baptism and being filled with the holy spirit he goes into the desert for 40 days and he doesn't eat anything he relies upon god's protection and direction and he himself after 40 days in his humanity hungers so the devil confronts him and he says if you are the son of god turn this stone into bread and jesus the word incarnate the law of god made flesh quotes from the book of deuteronomy it is said that man does not live by bread alone see jesus place his father first the devil tempts him again and takes him above the world so he can view all the nations at once and says to jesus all these will be yours if you worship me and serve me and jesus again quotes deuteronomy he says thou shalt worship god and god alone and he shall you serve the devil a third time takes him to the parapet of the temple the place where the holy of holies will be where the sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins will be taken place by the priests and he says to him jump down from here for a said you know the angels they take care of you and guess what moves i mean guess what jesus quotes for the third time deuteronomy you see jesus is the word of god he is the replica of the word of god he is god and the law of god himself and he is using this very fact to let satan know that he cannot win that doesn't mean satan will not try again at the end of the scripture reading we hear that satan left him for a time but he will return and be persistent and try to tempt not not just jesus but all his followers were all called by the devil and tempted by the devil but if we place god first and choose what he says that you should love the lord your god with all your heart with all your soul first and foremost and then afterwards your family your friends your country your neighbor but do we have truly put god first during the lenten season we're called to turn to god to put god first in our life to seek his mercy to seek his forgiveness to seek his power and he in turn will not only forgive us he will empower us with the same spirit he in turn will feed us with the eucharist he will redeem us and lead us into the true promised land eternal in heaven for if we act in the manner he does if we replicate his life we become deuteronomy and we will share happiness and peace not just here on earth in this lifetime but in the world to come we need to understand despite being tempted by richness pain or fortune popularity we need to place god first in our life it is the first step to going into the promised land and if we put god first and trust in him and give our first fruits to him and by the way that's what happens when the gifts are brought forward your sacrifices and the gifts as they are placed and given to the priest are then by the priest lifted up perfected by god himself through the sacrifice of christ and then he returns us and empowers us with his very self it's the perfect exchange we are fed by god and with that strength and that knowledge we're called to proclaim god that's why at each and every mass we take the time to profess our faith we declare with our mouth we turn to him in that potential right and then we listen to his word in sacred scripture acknowledge his presence and offer our prayers on behalf of the many when we do so in this sacred liturgy we suffer and die with him so ask to rise with him to eternal life jesus will face the devil again yet he will be triumphant he will defeat sin and death and make possible the means for salvation of us all so look at yourself look at your own mind your heart what makes you function is your day putting god first what do you think of your own needs or do you think of your needs your family first we need to have our priorities straight and the readings today suggest that if we are willing to trust in god even in times of trouble he'll protect us defend us and win victory for us allow god to bring that forgiveness to yourselves receive his abundant grace and act upon the many so that all may pass from this life to everlasting life and share in the paschal feast eternal in heaven may you have a blessed lent and a more joyful easter

Channel: St. Mary Catholic Church Cherry Hill NJ

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Length: 13min 24sec (804 seconds)

Published: Sun Mar 06 2022