The readings for the First Sunday of Lent brings us into the desert. Indeed, Lent is a desert season- a time when we find ourselves in that place of reflection, purification, testing, and enlightenment. Our ancestor in faith was in the desert, a “wandering Aramean.” Jesus, too, our brother as much as our Lord, is tempted and tested in the desert.
Just as Christ’s death and resurrection remove our need for such a sacrifice on our parts, His temptation in the desert stands in for us, relieving us from the need to go toe-to-toe with the Adversary. Jesus leads us through the desert of temptation, toward the promised land of Calvary.
Music Suggestions for
First Sunday of Lent
Gathering Song:
Dust and Ashes
Lead us through the desert sand.
Bring us living water
Holy Spirit, come.
Preparation of the Gifts Song:
Blessed be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
Communion Song:
We Have Seen and We Have Heard
In the silence comes your Word
To the poor and the lowly ones in pain.
In the darkness of the dead,
Be new life from broken bread,
And in your justice we will rise again!
Song for Sending Forth:
Jerusalem, My Destiny
Jerusalem, my destiny!
Additional Notes for
First Sunday of Lent
Some weeks it is easy to find just the right songs. The First Sunday of Lent is not one of them. But, as I spent more time with the readings, I became more and more aware that God is with us in the desert- leading us through it. Our temptation, then, is to assume we are alone- to think, "This is hard, so God must not be here." In fact, it is the difficulty of the desert as they may the surest sign of God's presence.
Two songs brought this idea into focus for me: David Haas' setting of Brian Wren's "Dust and Ashes," which has become a bit of a Lenten classic in the Catholic music world, and "Blessed Be Your Name," a pop-rock song from the Protestant Praise and Worship genre. Both are rich with the concept of God being present, even in the desert wilderness.
For that reason, I have included them both here. As you know, I am constantly encouraging Catholic church musicians to stop fighting the influence of the pop-infused praise-band stuff, and instead find the music that is good, theologically sound, and pastorally appropriate.
However, I understand you may simply not have the resources (or the inclination) to use a song like "Blessed Be Your Name." For that reason, and because there are not enough song texts to fit the First Sunday of Lent (Year C), I also offer, humbly, a new hymn text for this day.