Readings can be found here on the USCCB Website.
(Genesis 9:8-15)
This passage, telling of God’s spoken Covenant with Noah and with all of God’s people is a strong display of God’s eternal mercy and love and compassion for humankind and for all creatures. When speaking to Noah and his sons, God recognizes and understands their fear after the perils of the flood, in which so many died.
In this account God reassuringly promises never again to punish the world with a world-wide flood. We are told that God has placed the rainbow, after rainstorms, as a permanent sign of His promise to never again permit such a flood to happen again. Throughout time, we can see the rainbow as a comforting symbol of God’s love, care and faithfulness to us, our Creator’s children.
Psalm 25: “Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep Your Covenant.”
Like the story of the rainbow in Genesis today, this psalm reminds us of God’s faithful love and wisdom, beaming constantly with the light of truth and goodness. We are shown that God’s laws are a gift of love and peace, rather than a punishing restriction.
With this in mind, we might ponder this week how self-control and obedience to God bring freedom and peace. Once again, we are told that God’s compassion and love are from of old even as we ask our Divine Benefactor to remember us with our Savior’s infinite kindness as a teacher, shepherd and guide and revealer of wisdom and truth.
(1 Peter 3:18-22)
This passage bears further testimony to God’s abiding love and connects the Covenant with Moses to the Covenant we participate in as baptized Christians and followers of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds us of Jesus’ life-giving Sacrifice of Himself on the Cross; an innocent victim for redemption of our sinful souls. Consider how our compassionate Lord preached to the spirits in prison. Consider that “prison” may refer to the prisons of sin, addiction or any kind of spiritual, emotional or physical affliction.
This image is worth reflecting on… our loving God’s coming to us in our dark prisons and guiding us, rather than expecting us to find our way to union with Him from our blind and broken state. This passage leaves us with an image of Jesus resurrected in Heaven, at the right hand of God, “with angels, authorities and powers subject to Him.” Considering God’s almighty power and infinite love, we ought to rest in serenity, confident in our God’s desire and ability to forgive and heal us!
(Mark 1:12-15)
On this first Sunday of Lent, we read of Jesus’ being driven by the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days of prayer, fasting and temptation. Jesus is our Divine role-model for how we might best spend our Lenten time.
Have we considered how we might schedule time and efforts to pray, fast, self-discipline ourselves and enjoy contemplation? Even a few little changes and efforts can make a huge difference for finding serenity in our busy lives.
We’re told that angels ministered to Jesus during His time in the desert. We, too are promised that angels minister to us; our Guardian angels and likely many other spiritual beings protect, guide, comfort and encourage us, without our even knowing it.
Let’s not be afraid to pray for especial protection, safety and healing and purification for ourselves and those we love. As all of today’s readings reveal, our God is mighty to save! We can approach the Throne of Grace or our compassionate Shepherd will come to us.
Trust in God!
Deacon Matt
(Genesis 9:8-15)
This passage, telling of God’s spoken Covenant with Noah and with all of God’s people is a strong display of God’s eternal mercy and love and compassion for humankind and for all creatures. When speaking to Noah and his sons, God recognizes and understands their fear after the perils of the flood, in which so many died.
In this account God reassuringly promises never again to punish the world with a world-wide flood. We are told that God has placed the rainbow, after rainstorms, as a permanent sign of His promise to never again permit such a flood to happen again. Throughout time, we can see the rainbow as a comforting symbol of God’s love, care and faithfulness to us, our Creator’s children.
Psalm 25: “Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep Your Covenant.”
Like the story of the rainbow in Genesis today, this psalm reminds us of God’s faithful love and wisdom, beaming constantly with the light of truth and goodness. We are shown that God’s laws are a gift of love and peace, rather than a punishing restriction.
With this in mind, we might ponder this week how self-control and obedience to God bring freedom and peace. Once again, we are told that God’s compassion and love are from of old even as we ask our Divine Benefactor to remember us with our Savior’s infinite kindness as a teacher, shepherd and guide and revealer of wisdom and truth.
(1 Peter 3:18-22)
This passage bears further testimony to God’s abiding love and connects the Covenant with Moses to the Covenant we participate in as baptized Christians and followers of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds us of Jesus’ life-giving Sacrifice of Himself on the Cross; an innocent victim for redemption of our sinful souls. Consider how our compassionate Lord preached to the spirits in prison. Consider that “prison” may refer to the prisons of sin, addiction or any kind of spiritual, emotional or physical affliction.
This image is worth reflecting on… our loving God’s coming to us in our dark prisons and guiding us, rather than expecting us to find our way to union with Him from our blind and broken state. This passage leaves us with an image of Jesus resurrected in Heaven, at the right hand of God, “with angels, authorities and powers subject to Him.” Considering God’s almighty power and infinite love, we ought to rest in serenity, confident in our God’s desire and ability to forgive and heal us!
(Mark 1:12-15)
On this first Sunday of Lent, we read of Jesus’ being driven by the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days of prayer, fasting and temptation. Jesus is our Divine role-model for how we might best spend our Lenten time.
Have we considered how we might schedule time and efforts to pray, fast, self-discipline ourselves and enjoy contemplation? Even a few little changes and efforts can make a huge difference for finding serenity in our busy lives.
We’re told that angels ministered to Jesus during His time in the desert. We, too are promised that angels minister to us; our Guardian angels and likely many other spiritual beings protect, guide, comfort and encourage us, without our even knowing it.
Let’s not be afraid to pray for especial protection, safety and healing and purification for ourselves and those we love. As all of today’s readings reveal, our God is mighty to save! We can approach the Throne of Grace or our compassionate Shepherd will come to us.
Trust in God!
Deacon Matt
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