Please see How to Use Lection Connection
First Reading and Psalm
- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
- Psalm 32
Second Reading
- Romans 5:12-19
Gospel
- Matthew 4:1-11
Full lections can be read here.
Based on the Readings as Set
The first humans are given a beautiful garden to look after and enjoy, except that the LORD God commands them not to eat of the fruit of just one of the trees. The woman encounters the serpent who casts doubt on the word of God and, attracted to the forbidden fruit, she eats of it and then shares it with her husband. Their disobedience results in an immediate awareness of their nakedness. The Psalmist rejoices in the fact that his sin is forgiven because he has finally come to confess it before God. He now knows he can trust in the ways of YAHWEH and encourages others to do the same. St. Paul sees in Adam a mirror image of Christ in the sense that through Adam all have sinned and been alienated from God, resulting in death but through Christ’s obedience all are made right with God, resulting in life. After Jesus had been tempted for forty days and nights, the devil came and, twisting the Word of God, tries to turn him from the way of God. However, Jesus knows well the truth of the Scriptures and uses it to rebuke the devil and continue in obedience to his Father.
As Introductions
Old Testament
The first humans are given a beautiful garden to look after and enjoy, except that the LORD God commands them not to eat of the fruit of just one of the trees. The woman encounters the serpent who casts doubt on the word of God and, attracted to the forbidden fruit, she eats of it and then shares it with her husband. Their disobedience results in an immediate awareness of their nakedness
Psalm
The Psalmist rejoices in the fact that his sin is forgiven because he has finally come to confess it before God. He now knows he can trust in the ways of YAHWEH and encourages others to do the same.
New Testament
St. Paul sees in Adam a mirror image of Christ in the sense that through Adam all have sinned and been alienated from God, resulting in death but through Christ’s obedience all are made right with God, resulting in life.
Gospel
After Jesus had been tempted for forty days and nights, the devil came and, twisting the Word of God, tries to turn him from the way of God. However, Jesus knows well the truth of the Scriptures and uses it to rebuke the devil and continue in obedience to his Father.