1St Sunday of Lent 2024
After the ashes of Ash Wednesday comes the hard work and commitment of the next 6 weeks. Our gospel story for this weekend tells us about Jesus going out into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. God asks us to undertake this time of renewal and that is why we have the penitential season of Lent. Why do we have Lent every year? Why penance? Why fasting? Why almsgiving? What does that have to do with us? If we take our faith seriously then Lent, penance, fasting and almsgiving have a great deal to do with all of us. The readings for the 1st Sunday of talk about God who is faithful even when we wander away far from him. The first reading is about God establishing a covenant with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature, promising no future floods will destroy all life. The bow, set in the clouds, symbolizes this perpetual covenant, a reminder to God and humanity of this promise. The psalm reminds us to be faithful as we ask the Lord to teach us his ways, trusting in his salvation. We remember His mercy and love, as He shows the paths of righteousness to those who follow His ways.
The second reading connects the story of Noah to the sacrament of Baptism. It emphasizes Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection as the ultimate act of reconciliation between humanity and God. Baptism is presented not merely as a ritual cleansing but as a profound commitment to live in accordance with God’s will, empowered by Christ’s victory over death. In our Gospel this weekend Jesus asks for such significant changes from those who have heard him preach. After he was baptized by John, he spent time in the desert and underwent temptations. He was tested and accompanied by the Spirit came out strong and determined. Jesus announces the coming of the reign of God and he invites others who hear him to commit their lives fully to God and God’s ways. He preaches “Repentance” which requires change of mind and heart. He doesn’t want some superficial or cosmetic change. He isn’t asking for a few minutes, hours, weeks, or months of our time which, when completed, we can return to our previous ways of living. Perhaps we have given up wine or desserts for Lent.
Then we hope to hang on till Easter when we can pop the cork and slice the Easter cake. No, repentance isn’t just for a part of the year. It is a full-time, on-going commitment to change and be changed by God. We are called to turn away from whatever distracts us from God and to return to the embrace of the One who is infinite love. Such total change can easily be left for a more “convenient time.” We say we will start a more serious pursuit of God later on after we finish school, when we have a family, after retirement, “When I’ll have more time to give to prayer and good works.” But Jesus is speaking in the in the here and now of the present moment, he is not speaking about something that will happen in the future. ” Lent is a grace filled time when we will receive the help we need to turn our lives towards God. We are invited to reflect on God’s faithfulness, the significance of baptism, the importance of repentance and conversion. So now as we begin Lent we are invited to recommit ourselves to God. Let us ask ourselves whether we are open to be really changed as gods people so we will be able to enter more fully into the great ceremonies of Holy Week and Easter.
Fullerton T 