Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 18, 2018
First Reading: Genesis 9.8-15
8To Noah and to his sons with him, God also said this9"Behold, I will establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you10and with every living soul that is with you: as much with the birds as with the cattle and all the animals of the earth that have gone forth from the ark, and with all the wild beasts of the earth11I will establish my covenant with you, and no longer will all that is flesh be put to death by the waters of a great flood, and, henceforth, there will not be a great flood to utterly destroy the earth.12And God said: "This is the sign of the pact that I grant between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations13I will place my arc in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the pact between myself and the earth14And when I obscure the sky with clouds, my arc will appear in the clouds15And I will remember my covenant with you, and with every living soul that enlivens flesh. And there will no longer be waters from a great flood to wipe away all that is flesh
Psalm 25
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David. To you, Lord, I have lifted up my soul2In you, my God, I trust. Let me not be put to shame3And do not let my enemies laugh at me. For all who remain with you will not be confounded4May all those who act unjustly over nothing be confounded. O Lord, demonstrate your ways to me, and teach me your paths5Direct me in your truth, and teach me. For you are God, my Saviour, and I remain with you all day long6O Lord, remember your compassion and your mercies, which are from ages past7Do not remember the offenses of my youth and my ignorances. Remember me according to your mercy, because of your goodness, O Lord8The Lord is sweet and righteous. Because of this, he will grant a law to those who fall short in the way9He will direct the mild in judgment. He will teach the meek his ways10All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to those who yearn for his covenant and his testimonies11Because of your name, O Lord, you will pardon my sin, for it is great12Which is the man who fears the Lord? He has established a law for him, on the way that he has chosen13His soul will dwell upon good things, and his offspring will inherit the earth14The Lord is a firmament to those who fear him, and his covenant will be made manifest to them15My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pull my feet from the snare16Look upon me and have mercy on me; for I am alone and poor17The troubles of my heart have been multiplied. Deliver me from my needfulness18See my lowliness and my hardship, and release all my offenses19Consider my enemies, for they have been multiplied, and they have hated me with an unjust hatred20Preserve my soul and rescue me. I will not be ashamed, for I have hoped in you21The innocent and the righteous have adhered to me, because I have remained with you22Free Israel, O God, from all his tribulations
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3.18-22
18For Christ also died once for our sins, the Just One on behalf of the unjust, so that he might offer us to God, having died, certainly, in the flesh, but having been enlivened by the Spirit19And in the Spirit, he preached to those who were in prison, going to those soul20who had been unbelieving in past times, while they waited for the patience of God, as in the days of Noah, when the ark was being built. In that ark, a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water21And now you also are saved, in a similar manner, by baptism, not by the testimony of sordid flesh, but by the examination of a good conscience in God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ22He is at the right hand of God, devouring death, so that we may be made heirs to eternal life. And since he has journeyed to heaven, the Angels and powers and virtues are subject to him
Gospel: Mark 1.12-15
12And immediately the Spirit prompted him into the desert13And he was in the desert for forty days and forty nights. And he was tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the Angels ministered to him14Then, after John was handed over, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God15and saying: "For the time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God's covenant of mercy and our response to His call. In Genesis, we hear the story of Noah, where God establishes a covenant, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood. The rainbow becomes a symbol of this promise, a reminder of God's faithfulness and mercy. This story underscores the theme of trust in God's plan, even in the face of uncertainty.
In the second reading from 1 Peter, we see how this ancient story of salvation is linked to our own through baptism. Just as the ark saved Noah and his family from the flood, baptism saves us from sin, not through our own efforts, but through the power of Christ's resurrection. This reading emphasizes the spiritual renewal we receive in baptism, calling us to live with a clear conscience and trust in God's promises.
The Gospel from Mark shows Jesus, immediately after His baptism, being led into the wilderness to face temptation. This period of testing prepares Him for His mission, demonstrating His trust in God's plan. Like Jesus, we are called to trust in God's providence, especially during challenging times. As we journey through our own wilderness experiences, may we, like Jesus, emerge strengthened and ready to proclaim the Good News of God's kingdom.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to face challenges with faith, trusting in God's plan and mercy. Just as Noah trusted God's instructions to build the ark and Jesus trusted His Father during temptation, we too can trust in God's faithfulness. Let us live with the assurance of God's covenant, renewed in us through baptism, and respond to His call with repentance and belief. May we, like Jesus, be bearers of the Good News, living with mercy and trust in God's eternal promises.