Homily 1st Sunday Lent

Franklin Fong, OFM

February 26, 2023

The basic theme found throughout the readings for this first Sunday of Lent is TEMPTATION.

The first reading talks about Adam and Eve’s fall into temptation.

The psalm is a prayer for mercy, for those who have fallen into temptation.

The second reading demonstrates the innate desire of human beings to know and possess everything without limits. In this process, we lose our innocence and vitality and expose our vulnerability, discovering that we are not that smart. We end up feeling ashamed of ourselves that what we discover puts us into trouble. We are reminded then of the role of Adam in bringing sin to the world, and that Jesus dedicates and gives his life for the salvation others.  

The gospel reading demonstrates how Jesus successfully handles the temptations of the devil and does not fall into temptation. Jesus was tempted to use power in fulfilling his mission. He was being tested more about his commitment to be the loving and sacrificial servant of others rather than to sin ! Jesus’ faith clearly stood the test !  

Clearly temptations are here to stay. As long as we desire a lot of things, we are prone to be tempted. And so we have more chances of falling into sin.  

The gospel reading demonstrates how Jesus Christ, who is disinterested in wealth, prestige and power and successfully fights against the seductions of the devil. His only desire is to do the will of God. He listens to the voice of God. 

 The voice of God is to establish God’s reign in two ways:

by listening to God’s Word and not by satisfying appetites and by living simply and ordinarily and not by trying to impress!  

Sin leads us to death; Christ brings us back to life. Christ overcomes sin, because he never listens to the devil, nor to himself. Besides, he has no worldly desires. He too overcomes death.

So we can now see that overcoming temptations means being focused to the one true God, not to anything bizarre! If we are not formed by the Word of God, we would easily give in to any temptation and have no qualms about committing injustices, crimes, blunders and sin.

The voice of God or God’s Word serves as a reminder for us not to give in to what is evil.

The second reading reflects on the downfall of Adam and Eve and ours in the 1st reading and on the victory of Christ Jesus over the devil in the gospel.

So, sin leads us to death; Christ brings us back to life. Jesus Christ overcomes sin, because he never listens to the devil, nor to himself.

So I ask you to reflect and meditate on these questions:

How do we handle the temptations to your commitments in your faith journey?

Which temptations do you find challenging? Money, power, pride.  

How can you deepen your identity as being children of God?

What have you done most recently to strengthen your faith journey?

The eucharist is the reward for those who resist temptations. It is the sacrament that celebrates our victory over evil. The eucharist strengthens us in our fight against temptations.

So brothers and sisters of the Chinese Catholic Community,

 that is the Good News

 for this first Sunday of Lent.

Amen, Amen !

(中文翻譯.原文以英文為準.)

四旬期甲年第一主日 (02/26/2023)
鄺神父主日講道中譯本

讀經一: 創世紀 2: 7-9, 3: 1-7
讀經二: 聖保祿宗徒致羅馬人書 5: 12-19
瑪竇福音: 4: 1-11

		
		貫穿四旬期第一個主日經文的基本主題是關於誘惑。

		第一篇讀經是關於亞當和夏娃陷入誘惑。

		聖詠是那些陷入試探的人求天主憐憫的祈禱。

		讀經二表達出人類與生俱來的慾望，即無限制地想了解和擁有一切。在這個過程中
		，我們失去了純真和活力，暴露出我們的脆弱，發現自己並沒有那麼聰明。我們最
		終會為自己感到羞恥，我們的慾望和經驗給我們製造了災難。這讓我們想起亞當將
		罪帶給世人的角色，以及耶穌為世人救恩的奉獻及獻出生命。

		福音經文展示了耶穌如何成功地處理魔鬼的誘惑，並且沒有陷入試探。耶穌被誘惑
		去使用權力來完成祂的使命。祂更多地接受的考驗是祂自己的承諾：做世人充滿愛
		和犧牲的僕人，而不是犯罪！耶穌的信心顯然經受住了這個考驗！誘惑顯然不會離
		開，只要我們渴望很多東西，我們就容易被誘惑。因此我們有更多的機會陷入罪惡
		。福音讀經展示了耶穌基督如何對財富、聲望和權力不感興趣，並成功地對抗了魔
		鬼的誘惑。祂唯一的願望就是遵行天主的旨意。祂聆聽天主的聲音。

		天主的話以兩種方式建立天主的王國： 通過聆聽天主的話語，而不是通過滿足食
		慾；通過簡單而平凡的生活，而不是試圖給人留下深刻印象！罪把我們帶向死亡;
		基督把我們帶回生命。基督勝過了罪，因為祂從不聽魔鬼的話，也不聽自己的話。
		還有祂沒有世俗的慾望，祂也戰勝了死亡。

		所以我們現在可以看到戰勝誘惑意味著專注於獨一的真天主，而不是任何奇異的事
		情！如果我們不是被天主的話語所塑造，我們很容易屈服於任何誘惑，並且毫不猶
		豫去實踐不公正、犯罪、錯誤和罪惡。天主的聲音或天主的話語提醒我們不要屈服
		於邪惡。

第二篇讀經反映了亞當和夏娃墮落和第一篇讀經裡的我們自己的墮落、以及在福音裡耶穌基督戰勝魔鬼。

所以罪導致我們死亡; 基督帶我們復活。因此我請你反思和思考這些問題：

 我們如何處理我們在履行信仰的承諾時到來的誘惑?

 你覺得哪些誘惑對你具有挑戰性: 金錢，權力，驕傲？

 你怎樣才能加深你作為天主兒女的身份？

 你最近做了什麼來加固你的信仰生活？

		聖體聖事是對那些抵制誘惑的人的獎賞。這聖事是慶祝我們戰勝邪惡的。聖體聖事
		堅固我們去抵擋誘惑。

		所以，華人天主教會的弟兄姊妹們， 這是四旬期的第一個主日的好消息。

		亞孟，亞孟!