Daily Readings - Sun Feb 21 2021
Genesis
8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,9"Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you,10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth.11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."12And 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:13I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,15I 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.
1 Peter
18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,19in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,20because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Mark
12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.13And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,15and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of promise, salvation, and mission. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's covenant with Noah, a promise of renewal after the flood, symbolized by the rainbow. This story reminds us of God's enduring faithfulness and the hope of new beginnings. The second reading from 1 Peter draws a parallel between the salvation of Noah's family through water and our salvation through baptism, highlighting the transformative power of faith. The Gospel from Mark describes Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and the beginning of his ministry, illustrating his commitment to God's will and the call to repentance.
These readings are interconnected through the themes of covenant and salvation. Noah's covenant represents God's promise to humanity, while Jesus' journey symbolizes the fulfillment of that promise through his ministry. The connection between the flood and baptism underscores the idea of salvation as a divine act that transforms and renews. The wilderness temptation shows Jesus overcoming challenges, setting an example for us to face our own trials with faith.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's promises, especially during difficult times. Just as Noah trusted God's plan and Jesus endured temptation, we are called to live out our faith with courage and hope. The moral lesson here is one of renewal and trust—reminding us that through our baptism, we are called to a life of faith and service, living as children of God, and sharing the Good News with the world.