Dear brothers and sisters, Falling into temptation costs a fortune. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible
Study
9 March 201
1st Sunday of Lent A
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st reading: Genesis 2,7-9; 3,1-7
The focus is on the temptation.
Creation of Man / Setting
 2,7 The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew
into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. 8
Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and he placed
there the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground the LORD God
made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food,
with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the
knowledge of good and bad.
Temptation
 3,1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the
LORD God had made. The serpent asked the woman, "Did God really tell
you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?" 2 The woman
answered the serpent: "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;
3 it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God
said, 'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.'" 4 But the serpent
said to the woman: "You certainly will not die! 5 No, God knows well that
the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like
gods who know what is good and what is bad." 6 The woman saw that
the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining
wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some
to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both
of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they
sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

3. 1 reading: Genesis 2,7-9; 3,1-7
st
Creation / Setting

2,7 The LORD God
formed man out of the
clay of the ground and
blew into his nostrils the
breath of life, and so man
became a living being. 8
Then the LORD God
planted a garden in
Eden, in the east, and he
placed there the man
whom he had formed. 9
Out of the ground the
LORD God made various
trees grow that were
delightful to look at and
good for food, with the
tree of life in the middle
of the garden and the
tree of the knowledge of
good and bad.
Commentary
 The text comes from the second story of
creation (2,4b--3,24).
 The first creation story (1,1-2,4a)
 God creates man out of clay and his
breath. v.7
 God also creates a garden and settles
the man there.v.8
 God again creates. This time he creates
trees. v.9



Delightful to see
Good for food
There are two trees of special interest:


Tree of life
Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

4. Temptation
 3,1 Now the serpent was the
most cunning of all the animals
that the LORD God had made.
The serpent asked the woman,
"Did God really tell you not to eat
from any of the trees in the
garden?" 2 The woman
answered the serpent: "We may
eat of the fruit of the trees in the
garden; 3 it is only about the fruit
of the tree in the middle of the
garden that God said, 'You shall
not eat it or even touch it, lest you
die.'" 4 But the serpent said to
the woman: "You certainly will not
die! 5 No, God knows well that
the moment you eat of it your
eyes will be opened and you will
be like gods who know what is
good and what is bad."


In 3,1 the author (Yahwist)
personifies the serpent. The author
makes him speak and talk to the
woman.
The serpent asks a seemingly
innocent question, but truth is, he
plays on the woman’s weakness (or
challenges God’s authority).


In vv.2-3, the woman entertains the
cunning serpent (snake) and this is
a big mistake.
In vv.4-5, the serpent again speaks
in a more convincing manner.
 He subverts the threat of death.
 He assures of the good effect
once she will eat of it.


Their eyes will be opened.
They will become like gods who
know everything (merismus: good
and bad)

5. The Fall
 6 The woman saw that
the tree was good for
food, pleasing to the
eyes, and desirable for
gaining wisdom. So
she took some of its
fruit and ate it; and she
also gave some to her
husband, who was with
her, and he ate it. 7
Then the eyes of both
of them were opened,
and they realized that
they were naked; so
they sewed fig leaves
together and made
loincloths for
themselves.

V.6 reveals the woman’s inner craving
for three reasons:




In v.6b, the woman acts to satisfy her
desire.



Good for food
Pleasing to the eyes
Desirable for gaining wisdom
She took some of its fruit and ate it
She also gave some to her husband.
(She did extra.)
It is a violation of God’s command. (Gen
2,16-17)

V.7 mentions the unexpected result.


Yes, their eyes are opened, but they have
not attained wisdom.
Instead, they see their nakedness
(vulnerability).



They are ashamed.
They saw fig leaves and make loincloths
to cover their bodies.
They do not become like gods.

6. Reflections on the 1 reading
st



We must know our limits.
We must be wise enough on whom to listen to.
We must discern where the voice, inducing us to
do something, is coming from:


If we want to know everything, to taste
everything, to always satisfy our appetites, if we
want to be like the gods…forget it.



From God or from our subliminal needs?
We are courting disaster.
We are playing with fire.
Let’s learn from the mistake of Adam and Eve.

7. Resp. Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17




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R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
3 Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
4 Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
5 For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
6 “Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
12 A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
13 Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
16 Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
17 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

8. Resp. Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17





R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for
we have sinned.
3 Have mercy on me, O God, in your
goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion
wipe out my offense.
4 Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
5 For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
6 “Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
12 A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
13 Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
16 Give me back the joy of your
salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
17 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your
praise.
Commentary

The psalm is full of parallelisms.

A parallelism is a style of saying the
same thing in different ways (different
vocabularies).

In v.3, the psalmist, a repentant sinner
(supposedly David), asks God for mercy
and compassion. (Prayer for Mercy)

In vv.3b-4, three times the psalmist asks
God to show his mercy by









Wiping out his offense
Washing from his guilt
Cleansing of his sin
In v.5, the psalmist admits his offense/
sin. (Admission of Guilt)
In v.6, the psalmist admits that his sin is
directed against God and flagrantly he
has done evil even in front of God.
In v.12, the psalmist prays for cleansing
(=forgiving) and spirit of renewal.
In v.13, the psalmist asks not to be cast
out from God’s fold.
V.16 implies that that inner joy returns
when there is forgiveness.
V.17 is a prayer to help us pray. It is
God who makes us pray.

9. Reflections on the Psalm








We must learn how to repent from our sins.
We repent in the context of prayer.
When repenting, we admit our guilt, our sins, our
violations and transgressions.
When repenting, we ask for mercy, understanding,
forgiveness, and love
When we are forgiven, we experience serenity and joy in
our heart. We feel God’s spirit working in us again.
If you are always justifying yourself by saying “I did not do
anything wrong, they are wrong,” you will never repent
and you will keep repeating the same mistakes.
Have you ever repented? Have you ever examined your
conscience?
Have you ever realized you offended anyone by your
careless speech, action (body language, foul gestures)?

10. 2 reading: Romans 5,12.17-19
nd
The coming of sin and death
 12 Through one man sin entered the world, and through
sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as
all sinned.
Reign of life through Jesus
 17 For if, by the transgression of one, death came to reign
through that one, how much more will those who receive
the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ.
 18 In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous
act acquittal and life came to all. 19 For just as through
the disobedience of one man the many were made
sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be
made righteous.
The focus is on sin and grace.

11. 2nd reading: Romans 5,12.17-19
Commentary
The coming of sin and death
 The reading recalls the fall of Adam

12 Through one man sin entered
the world, and through sin, death,
(and Eve) in Genesis.
and thus death came to all men,
 It is a theological reflection on the first
inasmuch as all sinned.
reading.
Reign of life through Jesus
 The first parents fall into sin. The

17 For if, by the transgression of
one, death came to reign through
consequence is death.
that one, how much more will
 V.12 clarifies that all men and women
those who receive the abundance
die, because they too commit sin.
of grace and of the gift of
justification come to reign in life
Their death is not attributed solely to
through the one person Jesus
the first parents.
Christ.
 V.17 speaks of the redemption of

18 In conclusion, just as through
humankind.
one transgression condemnation
came upon all, so through one
 Picking up the sin of one man as the
righteous act acquittal and life
cause of death, we come back to life
came to all. 19 For just as
through the merit of one man also,
through the disobedience of one
man the many were made sinners,
Jesus Christ.
so through the obedience of one
 Vv.18-19 further develop the idea of
the many will be made righteous.
v.17.

12. Reflections on the 2 reading
nd



Jesus dismantles sin and its consequence - death.
Christ repairs (undo) the damage done by the sin of our
first parents.
How does he do it?





Through obedience to God’s law.
By listening to the voice of the Father.
We are saved from sin and death, by the merits of Jesus
Christ.
It is a big favor from God that our sin and guilt are
removed from us.
Let us live according to the taste of Christ, not the taste
of Adam and Eve.

13. Gospel reading: Matthew 4,1-11
A simple outline!
Introduction

1 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2
He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.
Entrance of the Devil: 1 st temptation

3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that
these stones become loaves of bread." 4 He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not
live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'"
2 nd temptation

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the
temple, 6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is
written: 'He will command his angels concerning you and 'with their hands they will
support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "Again it
is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"
rd
3 temptation

8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms
of the world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if
you will prostrate yourself and worship me." 10 At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away,
Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you
serve.'"
Exit of the devil

11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
The focus is on the temptations of Jesus.

14. Gospel reading: Matthew 4,1-11
Introduction

1 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the
desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for
forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was
hungry.
Entrance of the Devil: 1 st temptation

3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you
are the Son of God, command that these stones
become loaves of bread." 4 He said in reply, "It is
written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by
every word that comes forth from the mouth of
God.'"
nd
2 temptation

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw
yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command
his angels concerning you and 'with their hands
they will support you, lest you dash your foot
against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "Again it
is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to
the test.'"
rd
3 temptation

8 Then the devil took him up to a very high
mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the
world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him,
"All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate
yourself and worship me." 10 At this, Jesus said
to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord,
your God, shall you worship and him alone shall
you serve.'"
Exit of the devil

11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels
came and ministered to him.
Commentary

In vv.1-2, we are told that Jesus is led by
the Spirit (Holy Spirit), into the desert
(arid place, without food, in contrast to
the Garden), to be tempted (tested) by
the devil (evil one).

He fasted (not eaten anything or no full
meals) for 40 days and nights
(symbolizing the Israelites’ wandering in
the desert for 40 years).

Jesus gets hungry afterwards.

Temptations come when there is hunger.

Why does Matthew place the temptations
here, not within the ministry of Jesus?

According to some interpreters, the
temptations are placed right before his
ministry to tell us his method of
evangelization.

Will he gain people to God by satisfying
the craving and appetite for worldly
values (money, power and prestige)?

15. Gospel reading: Matthew 4,1-11
Introduction

1 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the
desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for
forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was
hungry.
Entrance of the Devil: 1 st temptation

3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you
are the Son of God, command that these stones
become loaves of bread." 4 He said in reply, "It is
written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by
every word that comes forth from the mouth of
God.'"
nd
2 temptation

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw
yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command
his angels concerning you and 'with their hands
they will support you, lest you dash your foot
against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "Again it
is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to
the test.'"
rd
3 temptation

8 Then the devil took him up to a very high
mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the
world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him,
"All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate
yourself and worship me." 10 At this, Jesus said
to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord,
your God, shall you worship and him alone shall
you serve.'"
Exit of the devil

11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels
came and ministered to him.









In v.3, the devil is identified as the tempter.
The tempter is subtle. He starts by saying,
“If you are the son of God…”
Wow, but did not God tell us during Jesus’
baptism that he is the son of God?
And here comes the devil to confuse him
and make him doubt that he is. The devil
puts him into a crisis (identity crisis).
The test is a matter of whom to listen to:
God or the devil.
In v. 3 the devil says: command these
stones to become bread.
Jesus does not listen. He listens to God
speaking through the scriptures: “One
does not live by bread alone…” v.4 (Dt
8,3).
This is the response of God when the
Israelites complain there is no food in the
desert.
Hunger should dispose this people to listen
to the Word of God.

16. Gospel reading: Matthew 4,1-11
Introduction

1 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the
desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for
forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was
hungry.
Entrance of the Devil: 1 st temptation

3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you
are the Son of God, command that these stones
become loaves of bread." 4 He said in reply, "It is
written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by
every word that comes forth from the mouth of
God.'"
nd
2 temptation

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw
yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command
his angels concerning you and 'with their hands
they will support you, lest you dash your foot
against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "Again it
is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to
the test.'"
rd
3 temptation

8 Then the devil took him up to a very high
mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the
world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him,
"All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate
yourself and worship me." 10 At this, Jesus said
to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord,
your God, shall you worship and him alone shall
you serve.'"
Exit of the devil

11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels
came and ministered to him.





In vv.5-6, the devil commands:
“throw yourself…” he also quotes the
bible (Ps 91,12). How dare him! He
shamelessly quotes the bible as if he
is listening to God.
Jesus does not listen. He listens to
God speaking through the scriptures:
You shall not put the Lord to the
test.” v.7 (Dt 6,13)
In vv.8-9, the devil says, “I will give
you these kingdoms, if you worship
me…”
Jesus does not listen. He listens to
God speaking through the scriptures:
You shall worship the Lord your
God…” v.10
V.11 states the defeat of the devil.
And come the angels who take care
of him.

17. For your further observation
1st temptation
2nd temptation
If you are the son of God
If you are the son of God
Desert
Holy City = Jerusalem High mountains
No man’s land
Place of worship (many
people)
Vantage point
Stone into bread
(wealth)
Throw yourself
down (prestige)
Worship me (devil)
(power)
(prioritize
yourself, your
needs)
Satisfy your craving for
material things. You need
them for your campaign.
Satisfy your craving to be
popular (vanity). You
need a name for people
to follow you.
Voice of
God
Not by bread, but
word…
Do not tempt the
Lord…
You need God’s Word, not
just material food, to live
with dignity as children of
Don’t presume God will
save you when you
endanger yourself by
Location
Voice of
the Devil
(alone)
3rd temptation
(few people)
Satisfy your craving
for power. You can’t
make people follow
you if you don’t
control the army.
Worship God
alone…
Don’t betray God to
pursue your personal
ambition.

18. 


Jesus does not fall into any of the traps of the
devil. It is very tempting, very convenient, but
salvation is not cheaply attained.
Following any of them, to prove himself, will spell
disaster to his true identity as the Son of God
and his mission to spread God’s reign.
Jesus wants to teach us a new paradigm:


Listening to the voice of God always.
Never listening to the devil and compromise with it.

19. Reflections on the gospel reading



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Jesus is the model on how to handle temptations.
Like Jesus, first of all, we must never doubt our identity
as children of God.
As such, we must act and decide accordingly.
We must do our mission by following God’s way, not the
devil’s way.
We must stand guard against entertaining possibilities of
a compromise because of a nice promise that comes
from an enticing intruder.
Once we compromise, give an inch to what contradicts
God, we spell our downfall.

20. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm



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The first reading talks about Adam and Eve’s fall into
temptation.
The psalm is a prayer for mercy, for those who have
fallen into temptation.
The second reading talks about the triumph of Jesus
over sin and death. He does not fall into temptation.
The gospel reading demonstrates how Jesus
successfully handles the temptations.

21. How to develop your homily / sharing




Temptations are here to stay.
As long as we desire a lot of things, we are
prone to be tempted.
And we have more chances of falling into sin.
The “devil” triggers what is inside us (our inordinate
desires and thoughts).

22. 
The first reading demonstrates the innate desire
of human beings to know and possess
everything (pakialamero, gustong malaman ang lahat; sakim,
gustong angkinin lahat, without limits).




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In the process, we lose our innocence and
vitality.
We expose our vulnerability.
We discover that we are not that smart.
We feel ashamed of ourselves.
What we discover put us into trouble.

23. 


The gospel reading demonstrates how Jesus
Christ, who is disinterested in wealth, prestige and
power and all those garbage, successfully fights
against the seductions of the devil.
His only desire is to do the will of God. He listens
to the voice of God.
The voice of God is to establish God’s reign by:
 Listening to God’s Word, not by satisfying
appetites
 Living simply and ordinarily, not by trying to
impress
 Being focused to the one true God, not to
anything bizarre

24. 


If we are not formed by the Word of God,
we easily give in to any temptation.
We have no qualms about committing
injustices, crimes, blunders and sin.
The voice of God (God’s Word) serves as
a reminder for us not to give in to what is
evil.

25. 



The second reading reflects on the downfall (sin)
of the first parents and ours (1st reading) and the
victory of Christ Jesus over the devil (gospel).
Sin leads us to death; Christ brings us back to
life.
Christ overcomes sin, because he never listens
to the devil, nor to himself.
Besides, he has no worldly desires. He too
overcomes death.

26. 
How do we handle the temptations








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To grab power?
To steal other’s money?
To be showy and ostentatious?
To be unfaithful to our loved ones because somebody else is
seducing us?
To consume what is more than necessary?
To buy what we don’t need?
To squander our hard earned money?
To use our influence to get what we want?
How do we handle temptations when there is no choice?




Jesus’ answer is never compromise with the devil (no to “kapit sa
patalim”)
We should not desire anything else but God.
We take hold of our identity as children of God.
We should decide die as children of God, in God’s loving hands,
not to die in disrepute.

27. 



The eucharist is the reward for those who resist
temptations.
It is the sacrament that celebrates our victory over evil.
The eucharist strengthens us in our fight against
temptations.
Frequency to the eucharist assures us of God’s continued
support to our journey to holiness and fullness of life.

28. Our Context of Sin and Grace




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Giant billboards
Advertisements
Indecent suggestions
Compulsive buying, credit
cards
Unlimited access to
information
“The public has the right
to know everything.” (but
the public is not god.)



Eavesdropping,
snooping, spying
Stealing of secrets
Greed (money, property,
power)

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Aware of one’s limitations
Listens to the voice of
God (God’s Word)
In control of oneself (not
easily seduced)
Pure of heart
Has simple needs
Tightly clings to God
Uncompromising in terms
of spiritual and moral
issues
Nourished by God’s Word

29. Suggested Songs
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Ashes
Hosea
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Paano Namin Masasabi
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrYhNWt03oE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVN-MThZQDs
For Ash Wednesday (from Sambuhay)
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http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/22399089/332105447/name/E20110309