First Sunday of Lent
“He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him”
Summary
Lent, 40 days of penitence and reflection, can appear dull: no flowers, no Gloria, no chocolate. Yet our readings today are action packed: in Genesis 9:8-17, Noah is in a storm-tossed boat packed with wild beasts for 40 days; and, in Mark 1:9-15, Jesus is driven into the wilderness for 40 days in the company of wild beasts and devils. In both readings, what seems like a time of destruction turns out to be a time in which God remakes and recreates echoing the creation story in which God brings something new and glorious out of chaos. When we experience chaos in our lives it is hard to discern God’s plan but we are to hold onto God’s promises. In Genesis this promise is sealed by a rainbow, something which only appears in storm. The rainbow has been used as a symbol of hope by people who have suffered storms in order to bring forth a new and better world. Can we not only trust God to bring us safely through our struggles but embrace the struggle, knowing that from it a new creation will emerge.
FIRST READING
Genesis 9:8-17
God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’
GOSPEL
Mark 1.9-15
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
