First Sunday of Lent
Processional Hymn - From Ashes to the Living Font
From ashes to the living font
Your Church must journey, Lord,
Baptised in grace, in grace renewed
By your most holy word.
Through fasting, prayer, and charity,
Your voice speaks deep within,
Returning us to ways of truth
And turning us from sin.
From desert to the mountaintop
In Christ our way we see,
So, tempered by temptations might
We might transfigured be.
From ashes to the living font
Your Church must journey still,
Through cross and tomb to Easter joy,
in Spirit-fire fulfilled.
1st Reading – Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“The priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God.
Then you shall declare before the Lord, your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien.
But there he became a nation great, strong, and numerous.
When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing hard labor upon us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and he heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.
He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.
Therefore, I have now brought you the firstfruits of the products of the soil which you, O LORD, have given me.’
And having set them before the LORD, your God, you shall bow down in his presence.”
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 91
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shade of the Almighty,
Says to the LORD, “My refuge, my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Upon you no evil shall fall, nor plague approach your tent,
For you has he commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
They shall bear you upon their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
On the lion and viper you will tread; and trample the young lion and the serpent.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;
Protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls on me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and give him glory.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
2nd Reading – Romans 10:8-13
Brothers and sisters:
What does Scripture say?
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart
—that is, the word of faith that we preach—, for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
For 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, enriching all who call upon him.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Gospel – Luke 4:1-13
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.
All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written, You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said 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 guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
Prayer for Our Lady of Angels Parish
Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us together and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through your Son, Jesus, with the great mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession and guidance, as we strive to build a parish that loves God, embraces all people, and shares the Gospel joyfully.
Amen.
Offertory Hymn - Forty Days and Forty Nights
Forty days and forty nights
You were fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.
Shall not we your sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with you to suffer pain?
Then if Satan on us press,
Flesh or spirit to assail,
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fail!
So shall we have peace divine:
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as served you faithfully.
Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,
Ever constant by your side;
That with you we may appear
At th’eternal Eastertide.
Communion Hymn - The Cross of Jesus
Come, O God, renew your people,
We who long to see your face.
Strengthen hearts that have grown feeble;
Fill our lives with truth and grace.
Only you can win our freedom;
Only you can bring us peace.
Only in the cross of Jesus
Will the captives find release.
Deep within create a new heart;
Melt away the winter chill.
Help us now to make a new start,
Help us now to know your will.
Washed in waters of forgiveness,
Cleansed in water of new birth,
Lead us to the cross of Jesus,
Bringing life to all the earth.
In the darkness that surrounds us
We have lost you from our sight.
Even though your love has found us,
We embrace the powers of night.
Scatter now our deepest darkness.
Guide our hearts into the light.
Join us to the cross of Jesus,
Help us set our living right.
Call us forth to walk in justice.
Rescue us from sin and grave.
Through the power of your Spirit,
Breathe in us the breath that saves.
Strengthen us in our communion,
One in Word and cup and bread.
Here within the cross of Jesus,
All who hunger will be fed.
Recessional Hymn - The Glory of These Forty Days
The glory of these forty days
We celebrate with songs of praise;
For Christ, through Whom all things were made,
Himself has fasted and has prayed.
Alone and fasting Moses saw
The loving God Who gave the law;
And to Elijah, fasting, came
The steeds and chariots of flame.
So Daniel trained his mystic sight,
Delivered from the lions’ might;
And John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became
The herald of Messiah’s Name.
Then grant, O God, that we may, too,
Return in fast and prayer to you.;
Our spirits strengthen with Your grace,
And give us joy to see Your face.
