Of Parapets and Angels

Today is the First Sunday of Lent. I went to the 5:15 p.m. Mass at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle on 9th Avenue at 60th Street (which is now "downtown" for me).

Today's Gospel reading, from Matthew Chapter 4, was the account of Jesus' 40 days and 40 nights in the desert during which he was tempted by the devil.

The French painter James Tissot created multiple images of this passage. Here are two:


" ... Then the devil took him to the holy city,
and made him stand on the parapet of the temple ... "


" ... Then the devil left him and, behold,
angels came and ministered to him."

Flashbacks: First Sundays of Lent 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

For reflections on today's readings, stop over at the blogs of Fran, A Concord Pastor and Deacon Greg. And, to see a superb Lenten observance in progress, everyone should pay a visit to Mike and his "50-Day Giveaway."

The images above live at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.