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First Sunday in Lent, February 21, 2021

Please see Using Lection Connection.

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Genesis 9:8-17)

After Noah, his family and the animals safely emerged from the ark, God made a covenant with them that he would not again destroy the earth with a flood. He said he would remember this covenant every time he saw its sign, a rainbow in the clouds.

Psalm (25:1-10)

Knowing that he can trust in the steadfast love and mercy of the Lord, the Psalmist looks to him, asking to be led in his truth and forgiven his youthful sins. The Lord will lead the sinner and the humble into his paths of faithful love as they keep his covenant.

Second Reading (1 Peter 3:18-22)

Christ the righteous one died for sinners to bring them to God. Made alive in the spirit, he then preached to the captive spirits of those lost in Noah’s flood. Those saved in the ark, however, prefigured our baptism. Christ is now gloriously ascended and sovereign over all.

Gospel (Mark 1:9-15)

When John baptizes Jesus a heavenly voice identifies him as God’s Beloved Son. Satan then drives him into the wilderness and tempts him for forty days. After, Jesus begins preaching repentance and belief in the good news of the impending arrival of God’s kingdom.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

• Salvation and judgment: two sides of the same coin
• God’s covenants with his creatures reflect his constancy and love
• Water as an instrument of judgment and/or salvation
• Forty days mark new beginnings in our relationship with God

Posted on

First Sunday in Lent, Year A, March 1, 2020

Please see How to Use Lection Connection.

Full lections can be read here.

 

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7)

The first humans are given a beautiful garden to look after and enjoy, but they are told not to eat the fruit of one particular tree. The woman and then her husband eat it after the serpent casts doubt on God’s word. Both then realize that they are naked.

Psalm (32)

The Psalmist, deeply aware of his own sinfulness, realizes that what he truly needs is a new spirit, a new heart. A merciful and loving Lord grants such to those who sincerely and humbly offer him a broken and repentant spirit.

Second Reading (Romans 5:12-19)

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 (Matthew 4:1-11)

After Jesus had been fasting for forty days in the desert, the devil, appealing to his humanity and twisting the Word of God, tempts him to sin. However, Jesus, knowing the Scriptures, uses them to rebuke the devil and continue in the will of his Father.

 

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Ultimately, obedience to God’s commands results in life, while disobedience results in death
  • We can only obey God when he gives us the means to do so
  • All human beings, including the incarnate Son, have faced temptation
  • All human beings, except the incarnate Son, have given in to temptation and sinned
  • We must learn and trust God’s Word

 

COLLECT OF THE DAY (BAS, Canada)

Almighty God, whose Son fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are but did not sin. give us grace to discipline ourselves in submission to your Spirit, that as you know our weakness, so we may know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 

Posted on

First Sunday in Lent, March 10, 2019, Year C

Lection Connection for Ash Wednesday can be found here

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Deuteronomy 26:1-11)

Moses commands the Israelites, once they have arrived in the Promised Land, to bring its first fruits as an offering to the Lord whilst reciting the story of their deliverance from Egypt. The harvest is to be celebrated as part of the Lord’s abundant provision.

Psalm (91:1-2, 9-16)

The Psalmist proclaims that those who habitually live close to the Lord, who put their trust entirely in him, are under the care of his angels and have nothing to fear. They will be delivered from every adversary, live to a satisfying old age, and see God’s salvation.

Second Reading (Romans 10:8b-13)

Paul writes that he proclaims the word of faith: in order to be saved one must believe from the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess that he is Lord of all. As such, he is eager to respond to all who call upon his name in faith, Jew and Gentile alike.

Gospel (Luke 4:1-13)

Luke records how Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil after a forty day fast. He counters by quoting Scripture taken from Israel’s wilderness experience. Unlike Israel, Jesus does not disobey God, and the devil departs.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Trusting in the Lord
  • God provides in difficult circumstances
  • Temptation
  • The spiritual power of God’s Word

 

 

Posted on

First Sunday in Lent, Feb. 18, 2018, Year B

Please see How to Use Lection Connection

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

First Reading (Genesis 9:8-17)

After Noah, his family and the animals safely emerged from the ark, God made a covenant with them that he would not again destroy the earth with a flood. He said he would remember this covenant every time he saw its sign, a rainbow in the clouds.

Psalm (25:1-10)

Knowing that he can trust in the steadfast love and mercy of YAHWEH, the Psalmist looks to him, asking to be led in his truth and forgiven his youthful sins. YAHWEH will lead the sinner and the humble into his paths of faithful love as they keep his covenant.

Second Reading (1 Peter 3:18-22)

Christ the righteous one died for sinners to bring them to God. Made alive in the spirit, he then preached to the captive spirits of those lost in Noah’s flood. Those saved in the ark, however, prefigured our baptism. Christ is now gloriously ascended and sovereign over all.

Gospel (Mark 1:9-15)

When John baptizes Jesus a heavenly voice identifies him as God’s Beloved Son. The Spirit then drives him into the wilderness where Satan tempts him for forty days. After, Jesus begins preaching repentance and belief in the good news of the impending arrival of God’s kingdom.

CONNECTION SUGGESTIONS

  • Salvation and judgment: two sides of the same coin
  • God’s covenants with his creatures reflect his constancy and love
  • Water as an instrument of judgment and/or salvation
  • Forty days mark a new beginning in our relationship with God

 

 

Posted on

Readings for Sunday, March 5, 2017 First Sunday in Lent Year A

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.