Sunday Mass Readings for the Ministry of Parents and Godparents
The Church professes Christian parents to be the “first” teachers of the faith and calls them to be the “best” teachers of the faith (The Rite of Infant Baptism). Godparents agree to assist in this ministry of parents. This resource from Catholic Lane is to assist you, parent or godparent, with using the Sunday Mass readings to teach the Catholic Faith and live the Catholic Faith as a family.
March 10th, 2019: First Sunday of Lent: Deuteronomy 26:4-10, Psalm 91, Romans 10:8-13, Luke 4:1-13 [1]
SUMMARY OF READINGS:
The first reading recounts the journey from slavery to Egypt and the gift of the Promised Land.
The Gospel parallels the Israelites wandering through the desert and struggling to be faithful to the LORD our God, as Jesus too goes into the desert, but he remains faithful throughout Satan’s temptations. The Israelites struggled in the desert for forty years, Jesus models faithfulness in his forty days in the desert, and we are invited to grow in faithfulness through the forty days of Lent.
Psalm 91 and St. Paul’s letter to the Romans both encourage us to call upon God for help and salvation.
CATECHETICAL TALKING POINTS:
These readings provide an opportunity for reflecting on the meaning of Lent and the nature of temptation. “CCC” refers to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
- The meaning of Jesus’ temptations in the desert (CCC 538-539 [2]).
- The relationship between Lent and Jesus’ temptations in the desert (CCC 540 [2]).
- The Christian response to temptation (CCC 2846-2849 [3]).
TRUTH IN ACTION:
Parents or godparents can also put the catechetical content into action through various activities. Here are just a few examples:
- Pray for your child or godchild to remain faithful to God, participating in Mass and frequent Confession, both now and for the years to come.
- At Mass, when the bread and wine are placed upon the altar at the offertory, offer upon the altar the temptations you are struggling with.
- After you receive Jesus in Holy Communion, ask Him to help you persevere during temptation and to grow in faithfulness.
- If you have an older child or godchild, invite them to share some of the things in the Christian life they struggle with and invite them to brainstorm how to grow in faithfulness.
- Consider giving up something for Lent that will allow you more time to mentor your child or godchild into the holiness of Christ.
- Invite someone to go to Mass with your or attend a Lenten study/program.
Bookmark Catholiclane.com for future Sunday Mass Readings for the Ministry of Parents and Godparents