FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C
READINGS AND OFFICE:
Today’s Mass Readings in the NABRE. Used in the USA.
Mass Readings in the NJB Translation. Scroll down. Used in most English speaking countries. For some reason the site has the Gospel reading before the second reading.
Anglican Use Daily Office. ”Briefly, it is a provision for an “Anglican style” liturgy similar to the Book of Common Prayer as an ecclesiastically approved variant on the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.” More info.
SUGGESTED THEMES FOR PREACHING, STUDY, MEDITATION, ETC.:
1. Confidence (trust) in God When Praying: Calling on the Lord who will hear and respond is a major theme, found in the First Reading (“we cried to the Lord…and he heard our cry”); the Responsorial Psalm (“he shall call upon me and I will answer him”); the Second Reading (“enriching all who call upon him. For all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved”).
2. True Confidence Should be Distinguished From Presumption (Testing God): See Jesus’ response to the third temptation in Luke. Note that Satan quotes the words of Psalm 91, used in our Responsorial Psalm.
3. Faith and its Confession; and the Reward Which it Will Bring: In the First Reading the declaration/prayer the Israelite is to make before God is a creedal statement (scroll down for the link to the Navarre Commentary on Deut 26:4-10). Note that here the confession concerns what God has done on our behalf through our ancestors in the faith. It is acknowledged with sacrificial offerings. In the Responsorial the psalmist confesses God as a refuge and fortress in whom he trusts; and he acknowledges God’s name. His commitment to God will have its reward. In the Second Reading belief and confessing lead to justification and salvation.
Liturgical Bible Study Guide. Basically a series of power point slides giving the readings, outlines to those readings, commentaries, reflections’ connecting the readings, developing a homily, etc.
COMMENTARIES ON THE FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 26:4-10.
Navarre Bible Commentary on Deuteronomy 26:4-10.
My Brief Notes on Deuteronomy 26:4-10.
Word-Sunday Notes on Deuteronomy 26:4-10.
COMMENTARIES ON THE RESPONSORIAL: Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15.
Father Boylan’s Introduction to Psalm 91. Whole psalm.
St Augustine’s Notes on Psalm 91. Whole psalm.
Patristic/Medieval Commentary on Psalm 91.
Update: St Robert Bellarmine’s Commentary on Psalm 91.
Word-Sunday Notes on Psalm 91.
Pending (maybe). My Notes on Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15.
COMMENTARIES ON THE SECOND READING: Romans 10:8-13.
Father de Piconio’s Commentary on Romans 10:8-13. On 5-13.
Father Callan’s Commentary on Romans 10:8-13. On 5-13.
Father MacEvilly’s Commentary on Romans 10:8-13. On 8-18
Update: St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Romans 10:8-13. Read lectures 1 and 2 on 10:1-17.
Word-Sunday Notes on Romans 10:8-13.
Navarre Bible Commentary on Romans 10:8-13.
Homilist’s Catechism on 10:8-13.
COMMENTARIES ON THE GOSPEL READING: Luke 4:1-13.
St Cyril of Alexandria’s Commentary on Luke 4:1-13.
Aquinas’ Catena Aurea on Luke 4:1-13.
Word-Sunday Notes on Luke 4:1-13.
Navarre Bible Commentary on Luke 4:1-13.
Homilist’s Catechism on Luke 4:1-13.
GENERAL RESOURCES: sites that usually deal with the readings as a whole (with some occasional specialty studies).
Update: Agape Bible Study. Looks at all of the readings.
Lector Notes. Brief historical and theological background on the readings. Can be printed out, copied, and used as bulletin insert.
The Wednesday Word. It’s about the Sunday readings, but the document is posted on Wednesday, hence the name. Designed for prayer and reflection, the pdf document ends with Father Dom Henry Wansbrough’s reflections on the first and second readings. Fr. Wansbrough is General Editor of the New Jerusalem Bible and contributed commentaries on Matt, Mark, and the Pastorals in A New Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture.
St Charles Borromeo Parish’s Bible Study Notes. Notes on all the readings, usually with some background info as well.
Link fixed. Sacred Page Blog: Lent as Spiritual Warfare. reflection on the readings by Catholic biblical scholar Dr John Bergsma.
Link fixed. Glancing Thoughts. Reflections on the Gospel from philosopher Eleanore Stump.
Link fixed. Thoughts From The Early Church. Excerpt from St Chrysostom.
Link fixed. Scripture In Depth. Succinct summary of the readings and their relation to one another.
Update: Let the Scriptures Speak. Biblical scholar Fr. Dennis Hamm.
CHILDREN’S RESOURCES:
Catholic Mom. Scroll down to this Sunday. Resources appear oriented towards 7-14 years of age.
Word Sunday’s Children’s Reading. Two very short stories seeking to draw a lesson from the first and Gospel readings.
We Believe. Activities geared towards Kindergarten through 8th grade. Also has resources for catechists, clergy, etc.
1. Sermons 4 Kids: What Did Jesus Do?
2. Sermons 4 Kids: Resisting Temptation.
3.Sermons 4 Kids: “I’ll Be Back”!
The Catholic Toolbox. Activities, crafts, games, etc., for class or home.
PODCASTS:
(1) St Irenaeus Ministries Podcast Study of Deuteronomy 26:4-10. Begins at 24:19. 15 Minutes long
(2) St Irenaeus Ministries Podcast Study of Romans 10. 50 minutes long.
Dr Scott Hahn’s Podcast. Becomes available 5-6 days in advance. Very brief. Text also available. Does good job of highlighting major theme(s).
Franciscan Sister’s Bible Study Podcast. Looks at all the readings.
(1) Father Robert Barron’s Homily Podcast: Three Questions From the Desert. From a noted speaker and theologian.
(2) Father Barron’s Homily Podcast: The True and False Messiah.
(3) Father Barron’s Homily Podcast: The Three Temptations.
(4) Father Barron’s Homily Podcast: Jesus is Tempted in the Desert.
The Divine Lamp 