First Sunday of Lent:B: February 21, 2021

 REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL

First Reading: Genesis 9: 8-15

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3: 18-22

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 12-15

   * First reading is from the book of Genesis. The floods that took place at the time of Noah are described. After the floods the Lord God made a covenant with Noah that there will never again be such a deluge. The Lord God's pact with Noah and his sons tells us about God's unfailing fidelity and benevolence towards the humankind. The rainbow was given as a sign of the covenant between the Lord God and the humankind. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Peter. The flood waters at the time of Noah and the waters of baptism are compared. Peter tells the Christian community that the waters of flood during the time of Noah symbolizes the waters of our baptism by which we are saved. As Noah and his family were saved, it is through our baptism that we are saved and we enter into a new covenant and a new relationship with God. Peter exhorts all of us to live according to the Christian faith, no matter what trials we have to endure because of it. 

The temptations of Jesus                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A brief narrative of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness is given. Jesus went through a time of serious reflection and faced challenges during those days in the desert. As we know from past experiences athletes prepare themselves for long duration before any event. Similarly professionals and artists rehearse painstakingly for long hours. So also good teachers prepare themselves meticulously. Before starting His public ministry Jesus went into the desert to prepare Himself for the divine task entrusted to Him by the heavenly Father. He had to purify His mind and cleanse His heart. The Evangelist narrates Jesus' going into the desert to combat the devil and concludes with His victorious emergence. Jesus emerged from His forty days of fasting and prayer and prepared Himself for the ultimate victory over Satanic powers. As we enter into the holy season of Lent, like Jesus we need to renew ourselves spiritually by fasting, prayer and almsgiving. In a sense, we too go into the desert with Jesus. We are urged to keep the last verse of today's Gospel throughout the Lent: "Repent and believe in the Gospel."

"Lent comes providentially to reawaken us to shake us from our lethargy." - Pope Francis. 

"As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst... Repent and believe... Jesus tells us." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. 

"Lent is a time to renew whenever we are in that process, that I call divine therapy." - Thomas Keating

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