1st Sunday in Lent

Our readings for the 1st Sunday in Lent are:

1. Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
2. Psalms 51: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
3. Romans 5: 12-19
4. Matthew 4: 1-11

• The origin of sin
• Think back to those sins that are most persistent in your life.  Do you see any pattern to them, anything that is common across those sins?
• If you could change one thing about your life in an effort to reduce the sin in your life, what might that be?
• Has it always been this way for you, or have the most annoying sins in your life changed over time?

• Victimless crimes
• The notion of a victimless crime has a lot of appeal.  If no one gets hurt, then where is the crime?
• When I commit a sin, is it always the case that someone gets hurt?
• Is that someone necessarily directly involved in that sin?
• What role do we have in repairing that damage to the cosmos?

• Amazing grace
• When I was young, we would occasionally have someone get up and "witness".  If you've never been to such a gathering, such sharing can be rather enlightening, particularly if you yourself have led a rather placid life.
• Even if you have led a relatively placid life, can you think of places where God's grace to you was "over the top" abundant?
• Was there anything that made it difficult for you to receive that blessing?
• What can we do to be better receivers?

• I don't have anything to prove
• In our culture, we're strongly motivated to succeed.
• Have you ever felt that you were, in one measure or another, failing?
• Did that experience draw you closer to Jesus and those around you, or did you feel isolated, alone?
• Do you think Jesus ever felt the weight of loneliness?
• Do you think that the two of you might have something to share with each other in that regard?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What are the occasions to sin in my life?
2. Where has God been merciful to me this past week?
3. How am I being the mercy of God to others?
4. What am I doing to prepare for the temptations that are awaiting me?

It wasn't the apple

Every once in a while, someone would start a sentence with "if only"

And wild speculation would ensue, on how much different life would be

If our first parents had not let sin into the world, and left us a better legacy.

If only Adam had been more diligent, none of this would have happened.

If only the two of them had backed each other up in the face of temptation,

If only they had not been so gullible, if only ...

If only I was more trusting, then I would be able to let go and let God.

If only I was more humble, things denied me would have no allure.

If only I was more indifferent to the outcome of things, I could hear God's voice better.

If only I had more time in a day, I could learn to relax more

Be more attentive to my family, pray more regularly

If only these pressures would relent for just a week, a day, an hour even ...

If only ...

If my image of success were to walk with Jesus day in, day out

Be there by His side to support Him with my weakness,

Sustain Him with my brokenness, share my failings, faults, and fears -

Then, maybe then, I would have the courage to pray honestly

Reach out to others deeply

And given generously.

If only ...

Shalom!