Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 18, 2024
First Reading: Genesis 9.8-15
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.
Psalm 25
1Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.2O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.3Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.6Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.8Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.9The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.10All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.11For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.12What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.13His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.14The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.15Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.16Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.17The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.18Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.19Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.20O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3.18-22
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
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
In today's readings, we journey through the narrative of God's covenant, salvation, and the call to repentance. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's promise to Noah, establishing a covenant symbolized by the rainbow, a sign of mercy and divine commitment. This covenant represents God's promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood, offering hope and renewal.
The second reading from 1 Peter bridges this ancient covenant with the new covenant through Christ. It highlights how Christ's death and resurrection offer salvation, drawing a parallel between the flood and baptism. Just as Noah's ark saved a few, baptism saves us, transforming water from a symbol of destruction to one of salvation. Christ's triumph over death and His role in granting eternal life underscore the fulfillment of God's plan.
In the Gospel, Mark describes Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and the beginning of His ministry. After withstanding temptation, Jesus calls us to repentance and faith, embodying the fulfillment of God's covenant. This call to repentance invites us to reflect on our lives, trusting in God's promises and responding with faith. Just as Jesus faced temptation, we too can find strength in our struggles, trusting in God's grace.
In our daily lives, we are called to live out our baptismal commitment, trusting in God's covenant and responding to His call. Let us embrace the transformation offered through Christ, facing our challenges with faith and repentance, and living as witnesses to God's enduring love.