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Daily and Sunday Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Heroes/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the First Sunday of Lent
Scriptural Readings:
March 13th, 2011
Invocavit (Lent 1)
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
March 13, 2011 - The First Sunday in Lent
Today's Reading: Matthew 4:1-11
Daily Lectionary: Genesis 4:1-26; Mark 2:18-28
Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. (Matthew 4:3)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. IF you are the Son of God. If YOU were a son of God, you wouldn't have said what you said to your friends. IF you were a son of God, you could have had enough faith to keep from getting sick. IF you were a son of God, you wouldn't act the way you do, ashamed of Jesus. IF you were a son of God, you wouldn't sin like you sin and call yourself a Christian. The devil's argument sounds reasonable. How you can you call yourself a son, a child of God, when you think what you think, say what you say, and do what you do?
But the devil's tried this before. Just after He was baptized and the Father said “This is my Beloved Son,” the devil says, “Well if you really are the Son of God then do this and that...” He tried to get Jesus to be some other kind of Son than He came to be. Jesus didn't come to prove He was the Son of God by doing miracles like show tricks. Rather the Son of God came to save sinners by hiding His divine power under the flesh and going all the way to death on a cross for sinners.
He can try it in the wilderness, he can try it in the Garden of Gethsemane and he can try it at the cross, but there isn't a thing the devil can do to make Jesus some kind of Son other than the One He came to be by giving His life in exchange for yours.
So know this. When you are not the son of God you're supposed to be, Jesus is. When you are the son of God who listens to what the devil says and gets tempted and trapped, know that Jesus is the Son of God who has already dealt with that liar. And when the devil whispers to you those words, “IF you are a son of God,” then just throw the Son's Words back in his face: “I AM a son of God, a child of God. My Baptism says so. And the Body and Blood of the Son of God in me say so. Away with you Satan!” Jesus is the true Son of God so that you too are a son— a child of God. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from those who rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Lent 1)
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflectons Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
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Collect
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that, following our Savior, we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Introit
Antiphon:
He shall call upon Me, and I will
answer him;*
I will deliver him and
honor him.
With long life I will sat-
isfy him,*
and show him My sal-
vation." (Psalm 91: 15-16)
Psalm:
He who dwells in the secret place of the
Most High*
shall abide under the shadow of the Al-
mighty.
I will say
of the LORD,*
"He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him
I will trust."
Because you have made the LORD, who is my
refuge,*
even the Most High, your
dwelling place,
No evil shall be-
fall you,*
nor shall any plague come near your
dwelling.
You shall tread upon the lion and the
cobra,*
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample
underfoot. (Psalm 91:1-2, 9-10, 13)
Old Testament: Gen. 3:1-21
The Fall
1Now(A) the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.
He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" 2And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3but God said,(B) 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4(C) But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit(D) and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her,(E) and he ate. 7(F) Then the eyes of both were opened,(G) and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife(H) hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"[d] 10And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid,(I) because I was naked, and I hid myself." 11He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 12The man said,(J) "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said,(K) "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14The LORD God said to the serpent,
"Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;on your belly you shall go,
and(L) dust you shall eat
all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[e] and(M) her offspring;(N) he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel."
16To the woman he said,
"I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
(O) in pain you shall bring forth children.(P) Your desire shall be for[f] your husband,
and he shall(Q) rule over you."
17And to Adam he said,
"Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree(R) of which I commanded you,
'You shall not eat of it,'(S) cursed is the ground because of you;
(T) in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;(U) for you are dust,
and(V) to dust you shall return."
20The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.[g] 21And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
Footnotes:Genesis 3:1 In Hebrew you is plural in verses 1-5 Genesis 3:6 Or to give insight Genesis 3:8 Hebrew wind Genesis 3:9 In Hebrew you is singular in verses 9 and 11 Genesis 3:15 Hebrew seed; so throughout Genesis Genesis 3:16 Or against Genesis 3:20 Eve sounds like the Hebrew for life-giver and resembles the word for living
Cross references:Genesis 3:1 : Matt 10:16; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 12:9; 20:2 Genesis 3:3 : Genesis 2:17 Genesis 3:4 : Genesis 3:13; John 8:44; 2 Cor 11:3 Genesis 3:6 : 1 Tim 2:14 Genesis 3:6 : Genesis 3:12, 17; Hos 6:7 Genesis 3:7 : Genesis 3:5 Genesis 3:7 : Genesis 2:25 Genesis 3:8 : Psalm 139:1-12; Jer 23:23, 24 Genesis 3:10 : Genesis 3:7; Genesis 2:25 Genesis 3:12 : Genesis 2:18; Job 31:33 Genesis 3:13 : Genesis 3:4; 2 Cor 11:3; 1 Tim 2:14 Genesis 3:14 : Isa 65:25; Mic 7:17 Genesis 3:15 : Isa 7:14; Mic 5:3; Matt 1:23, 25; Luke 1:34, 35; Gal 4:4; 1 Tim 2:15 Genesis 3:15 : Rom 16:20; Heb 2:14; Rev 20:1-3, 10 Genesis 3:16 : John 16:21 Genesis 3:16 : Genesis 4:7; Song 7:10 Genesis 3:16 : 1 Cor 11:3; 14:34; Eph 5:22-24; Col 3:18; 1 Tim 2:11, 12; Titus 2:5; 1 Pet 3:1, 5, 6 Genesis 3:17 : Genesis 2:17 Genesis 3:17 : Genesis 5:29; Rom 8:20-22 Genesis 3:17 : Eccles 2:22, 23 Genesis 3:19 : Genesis 2:7; Psalm 103:14 Genesis 3:19 : Job 34:15; Psalm 104:29; Eccles 3:20; 12:7; Rom 5:12
Gradual:
For He shall give His angels charge
over you,*
to keep you in
all your ways.
In their hands they shall
bear you up,*
lest you dash your foot a-
gainst a stone. (Psalm 91:11–12)
Epistle: 2 Cor. 6:1-10
1(A) Working together with him, then,(B) we appeal to you(C) not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says,
(D) "In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold,(E) now is the(F) favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3We(G) put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but(H) as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:(I) by great endurance,(J) in afflictions,(K) hardships, calamities, 5(L) beatings, imprisonments,(M) riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6(N) by purity,(O) knowledge, patience, kindness,(P) the Holy Spirit,(Q) genuine love; 7by(R) truthful speech, and(S) the power of God; with(T) the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through honor and dishonor,(U) through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and(V) yet well known;(W) as dying, and behold, we live;(X) as punished, and yet not killed; 10(Y) as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(Z) as poor, yet making many rich;(AA) as having nothing,(AB) yet possessing everything.
Cross references:2 Corinthians 6:1 : Mark 16:20; 1 Cor 3:9; Acts 15:4 2 Corinthians 6:1 : 2 Corinthians 5:20 2 Corinthians 6:1 : Heb 12:15 2 Corinthians 6:2 : Isa 49:8 2 Corinthians 6:2 : Psalm 32:6; 69:13; Isa 55:6; Heb 3:13 2 Corinthians 6:2 : Luke 4:19 2 Corinthians 6:3 : 1 Cor 8:13; 9:12 2 Corinthians 6:4 : 1 Thess 3:2; 2 Tim 2:24, 25; 2 Corinthians 3:6 2 Corinthians 6:4 : 2 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Tim 3:10 2 Corinthians 6:4 : Acts 9:16 2 Corinthians 6:4 : 2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Corinthians 6:5 : 2 Corinthians 11:23-27; Acts 16:23 2 Corinthians 6:5 : Acts 17:5 2 Corinthians 6:6 : 1 Thess 2:10 2 Corinthians 6:6 : 2 Corinthians 11:6 2 Corinthians 6:6 : Rom 15:19; 1 Thess 1:5 2 Corinthians 6:6 : Rom 12:9; James 3:17 2 Corinthians 6:7 : Eph 1:13; Col 1:5 2 Corinthians 6:7 : 1 Cor 2:5 2 Corinthians 6:7 : 2 Corinthians 10:4; Eph 6:11-17 2 Corinthians 6:8 : Rom 3:8 2 Corinthians 6:9 : 2 Corinthians 11:6 2 Corinthians 6:9 : 2 Corinthians 4:10 2 Corinthians 6:9 : Psalm 118:18 2 Corinthians 6:10 : John 16:22; 2 Corinthians 7:4 2 Corinthians 6:10 : 2 Corinthians 8:9; Prov 13:7; 1 Cor 1:5 2 Corinthians 6:10 : Acts 3:6 2 Corinthians 6:10 : 1 Cor 7:30
Tract
He who dwells in the secret place of the
Most High*
shall abide under the shadow of the Al-
mighty.
He shall cover you with His
feathers,*
and under His wings you shall take
refuge.
He shall call upon Me, and I will
answer him;*
I will be with him in
trouble;
I will deliver him and
honor him.*
and show him My sal-
vation. (Psalm 91:1, 4, 15–16)
Gospel: Matt. 4:1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
1(A) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness(B) to be tempted by the devil. 2And after fasting(C) forty days and forty nights, he(D) was hungry. 3And(E) the tempter came and said to him, "If you are(F) the Son of God, command(G) these stones to become loaves of bread." 4But he answered, (H) "It is written,
(I) "'Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5(J) Then the devil took him to(K) the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
(L) "'He will command his angels concerning you,'
and
"'On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
7Jesus said to him, "Again(M) it is written,(N) 'You shall not(O) put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8(P) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone,(Q) Satan! For(R) it is written,
(S) "'You shall worship the Lord your God
and(T) him only shall you serve.'"
11Then the devil left him, and behold,(U) angels came and were ministering to him.
Cross references:Matthew 4:1 : For Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1-13 Matthew 4:1 : Heb 2:18; 4:15 Matthew 4:2 : Deut 9:9, 18; 1 Kgs 19:8 Matthew 4:2 : John 4:6, 7 Matthew 4:3 : 1 Thess 3:5 Matthew 4:3 : Matthew 14:33 Matthew 4:3 : Matthew 3:9 Matthew 4:4 : Matthew 4:7, 10; Eph 6:17 Matthew 4:4 : Deut 8:3; John 4:34 Matthew 4:5 : Luke 4:9 Matthew 4:5 : Matthew 27:53; Neh 11:18; Isa 48:2; 52:1; Rev 11:2; Psalm 46:4; 48:1; Rev 21:2; 22:19 Matthew 4:6 : Psalm 91:11, 12 Matthew 4:7 : Matthew 4:4, 10 Matthew 4:7 : Deut 6:16 Matthew 4:7 : Isa 7:12 Matthew 4:8 : Luke 4:5 Matthew 4:10 : 1 Chr 21:1 Matthew 4:10 : Matthew 4:4, 7 Matthew 4:10 : Deut 6:13 Matthew 4:10 : 1 Sam 7:3 Matthew 4:11 : Matthew 26:53; Luke 22:43
Offertory
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (Psalm 91)
Daily Lectionary
First Reading: Gen. 4:1-26
Cain and Abel
1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten[a] a man with the help of the LORD." 2And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of(A) the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel also brought of(B) the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD(C) had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but(D) for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7(E) If you do well, will you not be accepted?[b] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.(F) Its desire is for[c] you, but you must rule over it."
8Cain spoke to Abel his brother.[d] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and(G) killed him. 9Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said,(H) "I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?" 10And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood(I) is crying to me from the ground. 11And now(J) you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." 13Cain said to the LORD, "My(K) punishment is greater than I can bear.[e] 14Behold,(L) you have driven me today away from the ground, and(M) from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth,(N) and whoever finds me will kill me." 15Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him(O) sevenfold." And the LORD(P) put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod,[f] east of Eden.
17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23Lamech said to his wives:
"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me. 24(Q) If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold."
25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed[g] for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him." 26To(R) Seth also a son was born, and he called his name(S) Enosh. At that time people began(T) to call upon the name of the LORD.
Footnotes:Genesis 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for gotten Genesis 4:7 Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]? Genesis 4:7 Or against Genesis 4:8 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field Genesis 4:13 Or My guilt is too great to bear Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering Genesis 4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed
Cross references:Genesis 4:3 : Lev 2:12; Num 18:12 Genesis 4:4 : Exodus 13:12; Num 18:17; Prov 3:9 Genesis 4:4 : Heb 11:4 Genesis 4:5 : Prov 21:27 Genesis 4:7 : Eccles 8:12, 13; Isa 3:10, 11; Rom 2:6-11 Genesis 4:7 : Genesis 3:16 Genesis 4:8 : Matt 23:35; Heb 12:24; 1 John 3:12; Jude 11 Genesis 4:9 : John 8:44 Genesis 4:10 : Heb 12:24; Rev 6:10 Genesis 4:11 : Deut 27:24; Num 35:33 Genesis 4:13 : Genesis 19:15 Genesis 4:14 : Job 15:20-24 Genesis 4:14 : 2 Kgs 24:20; Psalm 51:11; 143:7; Jer 52:3 Genesis 4:14 : Genesis 9:6; Num 35:19 Genesis 4:15 : Psalm 79:12 Genesis 4:15 : Ezek 9:4, 6; Rev 14:9, 11 Genesis 4:24 : Genesis 4:15 Genesis 4:26 : 1 Chr 1:1; Luke 3:38 Genesis 4:26 : Genesis 5:6 Genesis 4:26 : Psalm 116:17; Zeph 3:9; Zech 13:9
Second Reading: Mk. 2:18-28
A Question About Fasting
18Now(A) John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him,(B) "Why do John’s disciples and(C) the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 19And Jesus said to them, (D) "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20(E) The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and(F) then they will fast in that day. 21No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22And no one puts new wine into old(G) wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins."[a]
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
23(H) One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples(I) began to pluck heads of grain. 24And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look,(J) why are they doing(K) what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 25And he said to them, (L) "Have you never read(M) what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26how he entered the house of God, in the time of(N) Abiathar the high priest, and ate(O) the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" 27And he said to them, (P) "The Sabbath was made for man,(Q) not man for the Sabbath. 28So(R) the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
Footnotes:Mark 2:22 Some manuscripts omit But new wine is for fresh wineskins
Cross references:Mark 2:18 : Matt 11:2; 14:12; Luke 11:1; John 1:35; 3:25; 4:1; Acts 18:25; 19:3 Mark 2:18 : Mark 7:5 Mark 2:18 : Luke 18:12 Mark 2:19 : John 3:29 Mark 2:20 : Luke 17:22 Mark 2:20 : John 16:20 Mark 2:22 : Josh 9:4 Mark 2:23 : For Mark 2:23-28, Matt 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-5 Mark 2:23 : Deut 23:25 Mark 2:24 : Matt 9:11 Mark 2:24 : Exodus 20:9-11 Mark 2:25 : Matt 21:16 Mark 2:25 : 1 Sam 21:1-6 Mark 2:26 : 1 Chr 24:6; 1 Sam 21:1; 2 Sam 8:17 Mark 2:26 : Exodus 25:30; Lev 24:5-9 Mark 2:27 : Exodus 23:12; Deut 5:14 Mark 2:27 : Col 2:16 Mark 2:28 : Mark 2:10
Sunday Father Reading
"Today Christ receives us at His feast. In His mercy and loving kindness He refreshes us. He, 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world' is slain. The Father rejoices." [St. Cyril of Alexandria. "Sermon on the Mystic Banquet." 5th Century]
All Scripture Readings: English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Daily and Sunday Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Heroes/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the First Sunday of Lent
Scriptural Readings:
March 13th, 2011
Invocavit (Lent 1)
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
March 13, 2011 - The First Sunday in Lent
Today's Reading: Matthew 4:1-11
Daily Lectionary: Genesis 4:1-26; Mark 2:18-28
Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. (Matthew 4:3)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. IF you are the Son of God. If YOU were a son of God, you wouldn't have said what you said to your friends. IF you were a son of God, you could have had enough faith to keep from getting sick. IF you were a son of God, you wouldn't act the way you do, ashamed of Jesus. IF you were a son of God, you wouldn't sin like you sin and call yourself a Christian. The devil's argument sounds reasonable. How you can you call yourself a son, a child of God, when you think what you think, say what you say, and do what you do?
But the devil's tried this before. Just after He was baptized and the Father said “This is my Beloved Son,” the devil says, “Well if you really are the Son of God then do this and that...” He tried to get Jesus to be some other kind of Son than He came to be. Jesus didn't come to prove He was the Son of God by doing miracles like show tricks. Rather the Son of God came to save sinners by hiding His divine power under the flesh and going all the way to death on a cross for sinners.
He can try it in the wilderness, he can try it in the Garden of Gethsemane and he can try it at the cross, but there isn't a thing the devil can do to make Jesus some kind of Son other than the One He came to be by giving His life in exchange for yours.
So know this. When you are not the son of God you're supposed to be, Jesus is. When you are the son of God who listens to what the devil says and gets tempted and trapped, know that Jesus is the Son of God who has already dealt with that liar. And when the devil whispers to you those words, “IF you are a son of God,” then just throw the Son's Words back in his face: “I AM a son of God, a child of God. My Baptism says so. And the Body and Blood of the Son of God in me say so. Away with you Satan!” Jesus is the true Son of God so that you too are a son— a child of God. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from those who rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Lent 1)
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflectons Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
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Collect
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that, following our Savior, we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Introit
Antiphon:
He shall call upon Me, and I will
answer him;*
I will deliver him and
honor him.
With long life I will sat-
isfy him,*
and show him My sal-
vation." (Psalm 91: 15-16)
Psalm:
He who dwells in the secret place of the
Most High*
shall abide under the shadow of the Al-
mighty.
I will say
of the LORD,*
"He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him
I will trust."
Because you have made the LORD, who is my
refuge,*
even the Most High, your
dwelling place,
No evil shall be-
fall you,*
nor shall any plague come near your
dwelling.
You shall tread upon the lion and the
cobra,*
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample
underfoot. (Psalm 91:1-2, 9-10, 13)
Old Testament: Gen. 3:1-21
The Fall
1Now(A) the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.
He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" 2And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3but God said,(B) 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4(C) But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit(D) and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her,(E) and he ate. 7(F) Then the eyes of both were opened,(G) and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife(H) hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"[d] 10And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid,(I) because I was naked, and I hid myself." 11He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 12The man said,(J) "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said,(K) "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14The LORD God said to the serpent,
"Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;on your belly you shall go,
and(L) dust you shall eat
all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[e] and(M) her offspring;(N) he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel."
16To the woman he said,
"I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
(O) in pain you shall bring forth children.(P) Your desire shall be for[f] your husband,
and he shall(Q) rule over you."
17And to Adam he said,
"Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree(R) of which I commanded you,
'You shall not eat of it,'(S) cursed is the ground because of you;
(T) in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;(U) for you are dust,
and(V) to dust you shall return."
20The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.[g] 21And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
Footnotes:Genesis 3:1 In Hebrew you is plural in verses 1-5 Genesis 3:6 Or to give insight Genesis 3:8 Hebrew wind Genesis 3:9 In Hebrew you is singular in verses 9 and 11 Genesis 3:15 Hebrew seed; so throughout Genesis Genesis 3:16 Or against Genesis 3:20 Eve sounds like the Hebrew for life-giver and resembles the word for living
Cross references:Genesis 3:1 : Matt 10:16; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 12:9; 20:2 Genesis 3:3 : Genesis 2:17 Genesis 3:4 : Genesis 3:13; John 8:44; 2 Cor 11:3 Genesis 3:6 : 1 Tim 2:14 Genesis 3:6 : Genesis 3:12, 17; Hos 6:7 Genesis 3:7 : Genesis 3:5 Genesis 3:7 : Genesis 2:25 Genesis 3:8 : Psalm 139:1-12; Jer 23:23, 24 Genesis 3:10 : Genesis 3:7; Genesis 2:25 Genesis 3:12 : Genesis 2:18; Job 31:33 Genesis 3:13 : Genesis 3:4; 2 Cor 11:3; 1 Tim 2:14 Genesis 3:14 : Isa 65:25; Mic 7:17 Genesis 3:15 : Isa 7:14; Mic 5:3; Matt 1:23, 25; Luke 1:34, 35; Gal 4:4; 1 Tim 2:15 Genesis 3:15 : Rom 16:20; Heb 2:14; Rev 20:1-3, 10 Genesis 3:16 : John 16:21 Genesis 3:16 : Genesis 4:7; Song 7:10 Genesis 3:16 : 1 Cor 11:3; 14:34; Eph 5:22-24; Col 3:18; 1 Tim 2:11, 12; Titus 2:5; 1 Pet 3:1, 5, 6 Genesis 3:17 : Genesis 2:17 Genesis 3:17 : Genesis 5:29; Rom 8:20-22 Genesis 3:17 : Eccles 2:22, 23 Genesis 3:19 : Genesis 2:7; Psalm 103:14 Genesis 3:19 : Job 34:15; Psalm 104:29; Eccles 3:20; 12:7; Rom 5:12
Gradual:
For He shall give His angels charge
over you,*
to keep you in
all your ways.
In their hands they shall
bear you up,*
lest you dash your foot a-
gainst a stone. (Psalm 91:11–12)
Epistle: 2 Cor. 6:1-10
1(A) Working together with him, then,(B) we appeal to you(C) not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says,
(D) "In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold,(E) now is the(F) favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3We(G) put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but(H) as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:(I) by great endurance,(J) in afflictions,(K) hardships, calamities, 5(L) beatings, imprisonments,(M) riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6(N) by purity,(O) knowledge, patience, kindness,(P) the Holy Spirit,(Q) genuine love; 7by(R) truthful speech, and(S) the power of God; with(T) the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through honor and dishonor,(U) through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and(V) yet well known;(W) as dying, and behold, we live;(X) as punished, and yet not killed; 10(Y) as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(Z) as poor, yet making many rich;(AA) as having nothing,(AB) yet possessing everything.
Cross references:2 Corinthians 6:1 : Mark 16:20; 1 Cor 3:9; Acts 15:4 2 Corinthians 6:1 : 2 Corinthians 5:20 2 Corinthians 6:1 : Heb 12:15 2 Corinthians 6:2 : Isa 49:8 2 Corinthians 6:2 : Psalm 32:6; 69:13; Isa 55:6; Heb 3:13 2 Corinthians 6:2 : Luke 4:19 2 Corinthians 6:3 : 1 Cor 8:13; 9:12 2 Corinthians 6:4 : 1 Thess 3:2; 2 Tim 2:24, 25; 2 Corinthians 3:6 2 Corinthians 6:4 : 2 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Tim 3:10 2 Corinthians 6:4 : Acts 9:16 2 Corinthians 6:4 : 2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Corinthians 6:5 : 2 Corinthians 11:23-27; Acts 16:23 2 Corinthians 6:5 : Acts 17:5 2 Corinthians 6:6 : 1 Thess 2:10 2 Corinthians 6:6 : 2 Corinthians 11:6 2 Corinthians 6:6 : Rom 15:19; 1 Thess 1:5 2 Corinthians 6:6 : Rom 12:9; James 3:17 2 Corinthians 6:7 : Eph 1:13; Col 1:5 2 Corinthians 6:7 : 1 Cor 2:5 2 Corinthians 6:7 : 2 Corinthians 10:4; Eph 6:11-17 2 Corinthians 6:8 : Rom 3:8 2 Corinthians 6:9 : 2 Corinthians 11:6 2 Corinthians 6:9 : 2 Corinthians 4:10 2 Corinthians 6:9 : Psalm 118:18 2 Corinthians 6:10 : John 16:22; 2 Corinthians 7:4 2 Corinthians 6:10 : 2 Corinthians 8:9; Prov 13:7; 1 Cor 1:5 2 Corinthians 6:10 : Acts 3:6 2 Corinthians 6:10 : 1 Cor 7:30
Tract
He who dwells in the secret place of the
Most High*
shall abide under the shadow of the Al-
mighty.
He shall cover you with His
feathers,*
and under His wings you shall take
refuge.
He shall call upon Me, and I will
answer him;*
I will be with him in
trouble;
I will deliver him and
honor him.*
and show him My sal-
vation. (Psalm 91:1, 4, 15–16)
Gospel: Matt. 4:1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
1(A) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness(B) to be tempted by the devil. 2And after fasting(C) forty days and forty nights, he(D) was hungry. 3And(E) the tempter came and said to him, "If you are(F) the Son of God, command(G) these stones to become loaves of bread." 4But he answered, (H) "It is written,
(I) "'Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5(J) Then the devil took him to(K) the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
(L) "'He will command his angels concerning you,'
and
"'On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
7Jesus said to him, "Again(M) it is written,(N) 'You shall not(O) put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8(P) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone,(Q) Satan! For(R) it is written,
(S) "'You shall worship the Lord your God
and(T) him only shall you serve.'"
11Then the devil left him, and behold,(U) angels came and were ministering to him.
Cross references:Matthew 4:1 : For Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1-13 Matthew 4:1 : Heb 2:18; 4:15 Matthew 4:2 : Deut 9:9, 18; 1 Kgs 19:8 Matthew 4:2 : John 4:6, 7 Matthew 4:3 : 1 Thess 3:5 Matthew 4:3 : Matthew 14:33 Matthew 4:3 : Matthew 3:9 Matthew 4:4 : Matthew 4:7, 10; Eph 6:17 Matthew 4:4 : Deut 8:3; John 4:34 Matthew 4:5 : Luke 4:9 Matthew 4:5 : Matthew 27:53; Neh 11:18; Isa 48:2; 52:1; Rev 11:2; Psalm 46:4; 48:1; Rev 21:2; 22:19 Matthew 4:6 : Psalm 91:11, 12 Matthew 4:7 : Matthew 4:4, 10 Matthew 4:7 : Deut 6:16 Matthew 4:7 : Isa 7:12 Matthew 4:8 : Luke 4:5 Matthew 4:10 : 1 Chr 21:1 Matthew 4:10 : Matthew 4:4, 7 Matthew 4:10 : Deut 6:13 Matthew 4:10 : 1 Sam 7:3 Matthew 4:11 : Matthew 26:53; Luke 22:43
Offertory
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (Psalm 91)
Daily Lectionary
First Reading: Gen. 4:1-26
Cain and Abel
1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten[a] a man with the help of the LORD." 2And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of(A) the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel also brought of(B) the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD(C) had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but(D) for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7(E) If you do well, will you not be accepted?[b] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.(F) Its desire is for[c] you, but you must rule over it."
8Cain spoke to Abel his brother.[d] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and(G) killed him. 9Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said,(H) "I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?" 10And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood(I) is crying to me from the ground. 11And now(J) you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." 13Cain said to the LORD, "My(K) punishment is greater than I can bear.[e] 14Behold,(L) you have driven me today away from the ground, and(M) from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth,(N) and whoever finds me will kill me." 15Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him(O) sevenfold." And the LORD(P) put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod,[f] east of Eden.
17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23Lamech said to his wives:
"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me. 24(Q) If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold."
25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed[g] for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him." 26To(R) Seth also a son was born, and he called his name(S) Enosh. At that time people began(T) to call upon the name of the LORD.
Footnotes:Genesis 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for gotten Genesis 4:7 Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]? Genesis 4:7 Or against Genesis 4:8 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field Genesis 4:13 Or My guilt is too great to bear Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering Genesis 4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed
Cross references:Genesis 4:3 : Lev 2:12; Num 18:12 Genesis 4:4 : Exodus 13:12; Num 18:17; Prov 3:9 Genesis 4:4 : Heb 11:4 Genesis 4:5 : Prov 21:27 Genesis 4:7 : Eccles 8:12, 13; Isa 3:10, 11; Rom 2:6-11 Genesis 4:7 : Genesis 3:16 Genesis 4:8 : Matt 23:35; Heb 12:24; 1 John 3:12; Jude 11 Genesis 4:9 : John 8:44 Genesis 4:10 : Heb 12:24; Rev 6:10 Genesis 4:11 : Deut 27:24; Num 35:33 Genesis 4:13 : Genesis 19:15 Genesis 4:14 : Job 15:20-24 Genesis 4:14 : 2 Kgs 24:20; Psalm 51:11; 143:7; Jer 52:3 Genesis 4:14 : Genesis 9:6; Num 35:19 Genesis 4:15 : Psalm 79:12 Genesis 4:15 : Ezek 9:4, 6; Rev 14:9, 11 Genesis 4:24 : Genesis 4:15 Genesis 4:26 : 1 Chr 1:1; Luke 3:38 Genesis 4:26 : Genesis 5:6 Genesis 4:26 : Psalm 116:17; Zeph 3:9; Zech 13:9
Second Reading: Mk. 2:18-28
A Question About Fasting
18Now(A) John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him,(B) "Why do John’s disciples and(C) the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 19And Jesus said to them, (D) "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20(E) The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and(F) then they will fast in that day. 21No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22And no one puts new wine into old(G) wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins."[a]
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
23(H) One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples(I) began to pluck heads of grain. 24And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look,(J) why are they doing(K) what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 25And he said to them, (L) "Have you never read(M) what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26how he entered the house of God, in the time of(N) Abiathar the high priest, and ate(O) the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" 27And he said to them, (P) "The Sabbath was made for man,(Q) not man for the Sabbath. 28So(R) the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
Footnotes:Mark 2:22 Some manuscripts omit But new wine is for fresh wineskins
Cross references:Mark 2:18 : Matt 11:2; 14:12; Luke 11:1; John 1:35; 3:25; 4:1; Acts 18:25; 19:3 Mark 2:18 : Mark 7:5 Mark 2:18 : Luke 18:12 Mark 2:19 : John 3:29 Mark 2:20 : Luke 17:22 Mark 2:20 : John 16:20 Mark 2:22 : Josh 9:4 Mark 2:23 : For Mark 2:23-28, Matt 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-5 Mark 2:23 : Deut 23:25 Mark 2:24 : Matt 9:11 Mark 2:24 : Exodus 20:9-11 Mark 2:25 : Matt 21:16 Mark 2:25 : 1 Sam 21:1-6 Mark 2:26 : 1 Chr 24:6; 1 Sam 21:1; 2 Sam 8:17 Mark 2:26 : Exodus 25:30; Lev 24:5-9 Mark 2:27 : Exodus 23:12; Deut 5:14 Mark 2:27 : Col 2:16 Mark 2:28 : Mark 2:10
Sunday Father Reading
"Today Christ receives us at His feast. In His mercy and loving kindness He refreshes us. He, 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world' is slain. The Father rejoices." [St. Cyril of Alexandria. "Sermon on the Mystic Banquet." 5th Century]
All Scripture Readings: English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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