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Lectionary
LENT 1: 10 – 16 FEBRUARY 2008
THEME: ‘HUMAN BEINGS
CANNOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE!’
READING: Matthew 4: 1 – 13
The temptation of Jesus sets a great example of how
the followers should deal with difficulties that we face in
our daily life. When we go through this difficult time, we
must be aware that our Lord and Master also experienced it on
our behalf. Matthew shares an interesting scenario about food
and hunger. He lets us know that our Lord was hungry for forty
days and nights, but chose to obey God rather than the devil,
who was tempting him.
This passage reminds us of our
spiritual journey as we live on earth. God created us not
merely as material or physical beings, but also as spiritual
beings. Therefore, we are to worship and praise God in
whatever we do. As African people, we need to be constantly on
guard against what the devil is doing, especially among the
believers. We also are tempted in order to satisfy perfectly
normal desires, but in wrong ways. For example, to indulge in
sex before marriage, or to steal food to satisfy our hunger,
we are trying to satisfy God’s given desires in wrong ways –
we are turning stones into bread. We should remember that many
desires are normal and good, but God wants us to satisfy them
in the right way and at the right time. “Man shall not live by
bread alone.”
Submitted by Professor Maake J.S. Masango
PRAYER
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted
forty days in the wilderness and was tempted as we are, yet
without sin; give us grace to discipline ourselves in
obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so
may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah 58: 1 – 8; Amos
5: 6 – 15; Heb. 4: 12 – 16; 2 Peter 3: 18 – 20; Deuteronomy
26: 1 ‐ 11 | |
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