St. Francis Sunday Bulletin. English Readings and Meditation: Page 4; Spanish Readings and Meditation Page 5
OPENING PRAYER. Listen as the priest says this very prayer before the reading of God's WORD.
First Sunday of Lent: Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
REFLECTION:
This Sunday, the Gospel story is about Jesus' Victory over Satan in the Desert.
This story comes right after the story of Jesus' Baptism. In the quiet of the desert, he was fasting from food and praying with His Father about all the things he would teach about God's Kingdom while he was in the world.
Satan tried to turn Jesus away from God's mission by offering him food, power, and fame for himself.
Jesus used the everlasting WORD of God (from the Bible) to fight off the Devil's temptations. These are his answers to Satan in so many words:
Bread:
I won't choose bread that won't last. I choose God's WORD, the everlasting bread of life.
Power:
I don't need your kind of power. I won't worship you Satan. I will only worship and serve God.
Self-Centered spirit vs. God-Centered spirit
I won't do something I know is against God's will and hope that he will still save me no matter what. I will only do God's WILL for my life.
Are you seeking a deep CONVERSION in your 40 day Lenten journey to Easter? Will you faithfully follow Jesus' examples and gain victory over Temptation? Practice and gain victory with the small temptations each day.....It's great soul training!
CHILDREN
Show this Video to the children:
We are in the Liturgical Season of Lent. What color do you see at the ALTAR? (PURPLE: preparation )
Write out the PSALM Response in English:
Be with me Lord when I am in trouble
Bring your guide Receiving Jesus to Mass.
Follow the general confession on page 19.
Humbly ask God for forgiveness for your sins that took you away from knowing loving and serving God.
Listen to the priests absolution or forgiveness prayer from God: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life. You say, Amen.
READING for the CHILDREN from the Catholic Children's Bible : page 1581
The Temptation of Jesus: Luke 4:1-13
Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert,
2 where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
3 The Devil said to him, “If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread.”
4 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone.’”
5 Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world.
6 “I will give you all this power and all this wealth,” the Devil told him. “It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose.
7 All this will be yours, then, if you worship me.”
8 Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’”
9 Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, “If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here.
10 For the scripture says, ‘God will order his angels to take good care of you.’
11 It also says, ‘They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.’”
12 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13 When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while.
Look for this in the St. Francis Bulletin. Bring your coloring pencils/crayons and pencil.
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