When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.” You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God.
Second reading Romans 10:8-13
Now what does Scripture say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with he heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.'”
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'”
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'”
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Reflection
By Bernard M. Borja
We are filled to be emptied. For in our emptiness, we feel immensely the loving embrace of
God. Because through Him we are emptied, and through Him we are filled again.
Being full of love does not really mean it will always be happy moments. A couple cannot grow together in relationship if they did not go through challenges that they need to overcome. But just as the strength of a house is tested by storms and adversities, it cannot stand for long if its foundation is not built on a rock. And when all is poured out through love just to overcome such obstacles, the same love strengthens the couple to continue on their journey and face new challenges.
Having a full stomach does not mean a person cannot indulge more than he can. Many times I have been in unlimited buffet parties and I can say that not only during those times I have eaten past my gut’s capacity. If in those moments I remember that one of my core values is having good health, I would not have fallen into the urge of over-indulging.
We are all filled with good things. Everything that came out of God has always been good. But oftentimes, we focus on the bad things and let those things fill us up. Every time we let this happen, we forget that we are made up of good things. And this may be one of the reasons we fall into temptation. In our emptiness, we seek temporary solutions to make us feel consoled. But as we do this, we instead find ourselves in desolation because we forget to trust the Lord who emptied us and who will fill us again.
Jesus trusts God the Father and let the Spirit lead Him because Jesus knows that even though He will grow weary in His journey in the desert, He is rooted in the reality that He has been full of the Holy Spirit even before He went into the wilderness. Though being fully divine but also fully human, He believes that the same Spirit will protect Him from falling into the temptations of the devil. He does not forget that He will never be deserted especially in times of trials.
I remember a line from the film “Goyo” (a biopic history film shown months ago), which was said to the main protagonist several times by people closest to him every time he tends to slip away from his principles: “Tandaan mo kung sino ka (Remember who you are).” If only we always remind ourselves that we are a child of God, that He will always be with us, and that He has filled us up with His Spirit, we can overcome the adversities and emptiness of life. Though the devil comes back to tempt us in every opportune moment, let us always remember that we are built and protected by the love of God just like a house built on a rock.
We are filled to be emptied. For in our emptiness, we feel immensely the loving embrace of
God. Because through Him we are emptied, and through Him we are filled again.
Being full of love does not really mean it will always be happy moments. A couple cannot grow together in relationship if they did not go through challenges that they need to overcome. But just as the strength of a house is tested by storms and adversities, it cannot stand for long if its foundation is not built on a rock. And when all is poured out through love just to overcome such obstacles, the same love strengthens the couple to continue on their journey and face new challenges.
Having a full stomach does not mean a person cannot indulge more than he can. Many times I have been in unlimited buffet parties and I can say that not only during those times I have eaten past my gut’s capacity. If in those moments I remember that one of my core values is having good health, I would not have fallen into the urge of over-indulging.
We are all filled with good things. Everything that came out of God has always been good. But oftentimes, we focus on the bad things and let those things fill us up. Every time we let this happen, we forget that we are made up of good things. And this may be one of the reasons we fall into temptation. In our emptiness, we seek temporary solutions to make us feel consoled. But as we do this, we instead find ourselves in desolation because we forget to trust the Lord who emptied us and who will fill us again.
Jesus trusts God the Father and let the Spirit lead Him because Jesus knows that even though He will grow weary in His journey in the desert, He is rooted in the reality that He has been full of the Holy Spirit even before He went into the wilderness. Though being fully divine but also fully human, He believes that the same Spirit will protect Him from falling into the temptations of the devil. He does not forget that He will never be deserted especially in times of trials.
I remember a line from the film “Goyo” (a biopic history film shown months ago), which was said to the main protagonist several times by people closest to him every time he tends to slip away from his principles: “Tandaan mo kung sino ka (Remember who you are).” If only we always remind ourselves that we are a child of God, that He will always be with us, and that He has filled us up with His Spirit, we can overcome the adversities and emptiness of life. Though the devil comes back to tempt us in every opportune moment, let us always remember that we are built and protected by the love of God just like a house built on a rock.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You for showing us the wonders that we never deserve. Send us your Spirit, Lord, and fill us with Your love and mercy as we continue our journey and face more challenges that will help us grow closer to You. In our emptiness, help us to find our way back to You, to be filled again with Your overflowing grace. With our dearly beloved mother Mary, we pray that in every opportune moment, we will be drawn closer to you. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father, we praise You for showing us the wonders that we never deserve. Send us your Spirit, Lord, and fill us with Your love and mercy as we continue our journey and face more challenges that will help us grow closer to You. In our emptiness, help us to find our way back to You, to be filled again with Your overflowing grace. With our dearly beloved mother Mary, we pray that in every opportune moment, we will be drawn closer to you. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
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