1st Sunday of Lent
On the 1st Sunday of Lent, we reflect on Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, where He faced and overcame temptations. This reminds us of our own spiritual battles and the need to resist sin. Jesus’ response to temptation shows us the power of prayer, fasting, and Scripture in staying close to God. Lent calls us to enter our own “desert,” a time of spiritual reflection and discipline, to grow in holiness. As we begin our Lenten journey, we are invited to trust God more deeply, reject sin, and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.
Click on the appropriate year below to see resources, themes, homilies, and more for the 1st Sunday of Lent. See how to determine the correct year.
Mass Readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent Year A
See resources, homilies, and more for the 1st Sunday of Lent Year A readings here.
- First Reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7: God creates Adam from the dust of the ground and places him in the Garden of Eden, where He made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The serpent deceived Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, leading her and Adam to sin, realize their nakedness, and hide from God.
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51: A prayer of repentance, asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness for sins committed. The speaker acknowledges their guilt and asks God to cleanse them and create in them a clean heart and willing spirit, so that they can praise Him once more.
- Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19: Sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience, but salvation came through Jesus Christ’s obedience. Through one man’s sin, all were made sinners, but through one man’s righteousness, all can be made righteous by faith in Christ.
- Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11: After fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus is tempted three times by Satan, but he resists each time by quoting scripture and ultimately rebukes the devil, affirming his commitment to serving God alone.
Mass Readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent Year B
See resources, homilies, and more for the 1st Sunday of Lent Year B readings here.
- First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15: A description of God’s covenant with Noah and his descendants, promising never to destroy all life on earth with a flood again. God sets a rainbow in the sky as a sign of this covenant, serving as a reminder of his promise to Noah and all living creatures on earth.
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25: A prayer seeking God’s guidance and asking for His compassion and love. The speaker acknowledges God’s goodness and righteousness and asks to be taught and guided by Him.
- Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22: Christ died for our sins and was raised to life, ascending to heaven and now sitting at the right hand of God. Through baptism, we are saved and can now have a clean conscience before God, because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
- Gospel: Mark 1:12-15: This gospel tells of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and his subsequent preaching of the good news of God’s kingdom. After being tempted by Satan for forty days, Jesus begins his ministry, proclaiming that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, calling for repentance and faith in the gospel.
Mass Readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent Year C
See resources, homilies, and more for the 1st Sunday of Lent Year C readings here.
- First Reading – Deuteronomy 26:4-10: A ceremony of offering the first fruits of the land to the Lord and giving thanks to Him for His goodness and provision. The speaker, presenting the offering to the priest, recalls the suffering and redemption of their ancestors, and proclaims their commitment to follow the Lord and keep His commandments.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 91: A prayer of trust and protection, seeking the Lord’s refuge and assistance during times of trouble. The speaker affirms their faith in God, recognizing Him as their protector and deliverer.
- Second Reading – Romans 10:8-13: Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, and this faith is not dependent on following the law but on confessing with one’s mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in one’s heart that God raised him from the dead. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, regardless of their background or status.
- Gospel – Luke 4:1-13: Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness by the devil, who tempts him with power, wealth, and fame, but Jesus resists each time by quoting scripture and affirming his commitment to serving God alone. After the third temptation, the devil departs from Jesus, and angels come to minister to him.
More About Lectionary Cycles
Learn more about the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary, how the Lectionary is arranged, and translations of the Bible used at Mass.
How to Determine the Liturgical Year
The liturgical cycle is a three-year sequence of A, B, and C.
- 2024 is Year B
- 2025 is Year C
- 2026 is Year A
- 2027 is Year B
- 2028 is Year C
- 2029 is Year A
- 2030 is Year B
- 2031 is Year C
- … and so on
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