1st Sunday of Lent
First reading Deuteronomy 26:4-10
The passage from Deuteronomy 26:4-10 illustrates how the act of offering first fruits is deeply intertwined with the memory of God’s saving work. By recalling their ancestors’ journey from wandering to settlement, the Israelites recognize that their blessings are not self-made but are gifts from God. This intertwining of remembrance and thanksgiving is central to the Lenten journey as well. Just as Israel expressed gratitude through sacrifice and confession, Lent calls us to offer our own sacrifices—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—while remembering Christ’s supreme sacrifice on the Cross. In doing so, we not only express our gratitude for salvation but also deepen our awareness that we are called to follow the Jesus on the Cross. Through this season, we are invited to follow the path of salvation, living our thanksgiving through concrete acts of faith and devotion. Lent is a powerful means of living the sacrifice on the Cross while thanking Jesus for Salvation.
Don Giorgio