Lectio Divina for The First Sunday of Lent
Read the following Scripture two or three times:
Matthew 4:1-11
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for
forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God.”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 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.”
Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in
their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and
worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It I written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.”
Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
Meditation
After the reading, take some time to reflect in silence on or more of the following questions:
– What word or words in this passage caught your attention?
– What in this passage comforted you?
– What in this passage challenged you?
Contemplation
Read the Scripture again, followed by this reflection:
What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of me?
Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them. What motivates me to
perform righteous deeds? How can I purify my motivation?
When your pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. Where can I
pray without distraction? What time in my day is dedicated to prayer?
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. What parts of me does only God know? How do
I experience God’s loving kindness and favor?
After a period of silent reflection recite the Lord’s Prayer.
Living the Word This Week
How can I make my life a gift for others in charity?
Decide how you will observe Lent with practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.