GOD' GRACE

First Sunday of Lent Deuteronomy 26:4-10 / Romans 10:8-13 / Luke 4:1-13

When asked when temptations like lust or sexual temptation would end, a wise monk responded, "After death, fifteen minutes."

Can we earn salvation through our human efforts?

My dear brothers and sisters, today we are invited to reflect on the central question of our Lenten journey: Can we earn salvation through our human efforts?

In the Gospel, we hear the powerful story of Jesus facing temptation in the desert. The devil comes to Him with three temptations, each one urging Jesus to act independently of His Father’s will. The common thread in these temptations is the same: the devil wants Jesus to believe He can save Himself, to rely on His own power rather than trusting in God’s grace.

This is the same temptation we face in our own lives. We often believe that we can save ourselves by our own efforts—that through hard work, strength, or sheer determination, we can control everything and even earn our salvation. This lie, however, IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TEMPTATION WE ENCOUNTER: THE BELIEF THAT WE DON’T NEED GOD’S GRACE.

Pelagius, a famous British monk and theologian, is well known for advocating that salvation is earned through human effort. He believed that human beings have the free will to choose good or evil and that salvation could be attained by following God's commandments, without the need for divine grace. Many people today still believe that Pelagius was right. They think that by their own efforts, they can control everything, improve their lives, and do well without God. Some even want to remove God from public life—schools, workplaces, and other institutions—believing that they are doing fine on their own. The devil wants us to believe that we can do everything ourselves, without the help of God’s grace.

Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher: Weak people need religions, "God is dead,"

Is it only weak people going to Church?

I do not think so, I think you are the strongest people in the world because you have God in the back

But can we really do everything good without God’s grace? Pelagius was smart. But thank God, the mother Church is always smarter. we have St. Augustine who was given grace to know better. Augustine firmly believed that, because of original sin, human beings cannot choose what is good or attain salvation without God's grace. As Jesus says in John 15:5, "Without me, you can do nothing."

In today’s Gospel, we see that Jesus Himself relied on His Father’s grace to resist temptation. Even Jesus, fully divine and fully human, did not face these trials through His own strength alone. And in the same way, we cannot face the challenges of life or earn salvation through our own efforts.

Jesus' temptation in the garden; , “Father, if it's your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.”

My friends, Lent is not about what we can do to save ourselves. It is a time to reflect on what God has already done for us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a time to realize that salvation is a gift from God, not a prize we win by our own efforts. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, rich or poor, young or old. All are equally in need of God’s grace.

This is where our journey takes a turn towards grace. We may think we can do it all on our own, but the truth is, we can do nothing without God. And yet, with God, all things are possible.

Jonathan Roumie, the actor who portrays Jesus in The Chosen, a historical drama based on the life of Christ, has experienced firsthand how God works in mysterious ways. The show’s first three seasons have reached over 600 million views and become the most crowdfunded TV series ever, leaving a profound impact on countless lives.

Jonathan is a successful actor now, but his journey to this point was far from easy. In a recent interview, he reflected on his path. After college, he worked in production and as a location scout in New York City, earning a decent living. However, when the housing market collapsed in 2008, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he found the industry to be different, and for eight years, he wasn’t just searching for a new job—he was searching for a new life. He took on various side jobs, but eventually, he found himself broke, hungry, and without even government assistance.

At his lowest point, Jonathan realized that the one thing he hadn’t done was fully surrender his life and career to God. He recalled, “I got down on my knees and said, ‘Jesus, I surrender it all to You.’” In that moment, something miraculous happened. He received an unexpected financial blessing that changed his life. Just three months later, he booked the role of Jesus in The Chosen.

Jonathan's story reminds us that when we surrender to God, He does the impossible. It’s not our own striving that leads to success; it’s His grace.

In this Lenten season, we are called to resist the temptation of self-reliance and embrace the grace of God..

Brothers and sisters, let us walk through this Lenten season with open hearts, recognizing that we cannot save ourselves. Without God, we can do nothing. But with God, all things are possible. Let us surrender ourselves to His grace, trust in His power, and know that He is with us every step of the way.

May God bless us all during this holy season of Lent. Amen.

Introduction

Quote from a wise monk about temptations: "After death, fifteen minutes."

Jesus' Temptation in the Desert (Gospel: Luke 4:1-13)

Context of the Gospel: Jesus faces three temptations from the devil.

The devil urges Jesus to act independently of His Father’s will—

The common thread in the temptations: the devil wants Jesus to rely on His own power, not God’s grace.

The Temptation of Self-Reliance

OUR GREATEST TEMPTATION IS THAT WE CAN SAVE OURSELVES; WE THINK WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT GOD- THE TEMPTATION TO SELF-RELIANCE.

Pelagius' Error: British Monk; by human efforts,, we can save ourselves by followingGod'sd's commandments; we are able to choose right and wrong without God’s grace.

Many people today still believe in Pelagius' view

Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher: Weak people need religions, "God is dead,"

Is it only weak people going to Church?

I do not think so, I think you are the strongest people in the world because you have God in the back

The True Role of Grace

Can we truly do good without God’s grace?

St. Augustine's teaching: original sin; every good thing depend on grace; salvation is a gift,

Jesus’s example: Even Jesus, fully divine and fully human, relied on His Father’s grace to resist temptation.

Jesus' temptation in the garden; , “Father, if it's your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.”

John 15:5: "Without me, you can do nothing."

Lent: A Time of Reflection on God’s Grace

Lenten focus: It’s not about what we can do to save ourselves but about recognizing what God can do for us.

That is where our strength comes from

Salvation is a gift from God, not a prize we earn through our efforts.

Jonathan Roumie’s Testimony

Conclusion

Lent is a time to resist self-reliance and embrace God’s grace.

Reflection: We cannot save ourselves. Without God, we can do nothing, but with God, all things are possible.

Invitation to surrender to God's grace and trust in His power during the Lenten season.

Closing Prayer

A prayer for God’s blessings and strength during Lent, to trust in His grace and surrender our lives to Him