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First Sunday of Lent Second Reading: Romans 5: 12-19
During Lent, the Second Reading is chosen to reflect the theme of the Gospel and First Reading.
So, today, St Paul takes up the theme of Adam’s fall from grace - and how Jesus restored humanity to grace.
St Paul makes the point that sin is more than about breaking a law. The Law was given to Moses - but sin had existed in the world long before that. For many people in Jesus’ day, righteousness meant obedience to the Law - and Jesus often confronted those who saw themselves as good people (because they obeyed the Law to the letter) with the truth. Think of the story of the Pharisee and the publican in the Temple - one convinced that, because he hadn’t broken any of God’s Law, he was at rights with God - the other aware that he had a long way to go.
This is an important distinction to make - especially at this time of year when we are embarking on an extended “examination of conscience”. It is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking “I haven’t murdered anyone” “I haven’t stolen anything” “I haven’t....” “I have done what was right here...” “done my duty there...” and so on. But, as we saw last week, if that is where our examination stops - then we have missed the point - sin and righteousness are not simply a question of obeying or not obeying the Law - whether Church Law or Civil/ Criminal Law. These help in creating an orderly structure for society and the church - but deal with outward behaviour - and not with our inner disposition.
The Fall - as described in the First Reading - happens in us each day. We are not tempted to eat the fruit off a tree - and we don’t generally listen to serpents! But that tendency in humans to look for ways of looking after ourselves - and thinking we know best has not gone away. St Paul expressed this as sin coming into the world through one man - Adam.
If that was where it stopped, the situation might seem hopeless - if this is the human condition - what can change it?
The answer lies of course, in Jesus. He is sometimes called the “Second Adam”. Adam was created a perfect man - but succumbed to temptation - and met death - a legacy for generations to come..
Jesus was a perfect man who did not succumb to temptation - and so overcame death. - a legacy He passes on to us... Sin exists - but the grace of God is stronger...
What does it mean for me?
| Gospel | First Reading | Second Reading | |
