Daily Readings - Sun Feb 18 2018
First Reading - Genesis 9.8-15
Genesis
8And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,9And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;10And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.11And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.12And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:13I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.14And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:15And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Second Reading - 1 Peter 3.18-22
1 Peter
18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Gospel - Mark 1.12-15
Mark
12And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.13And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe 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.