Daily Readings - Sun Feb 18 2018

⁸Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him:⁹"I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you¹⁰and with every living creature that was with you-the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth.¹¹I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."¹²And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:¹³I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.¹⁴Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,¹⁵I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

1 Peter

Chapter 3

¹⁸For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,¹⁹through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison²⁰who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,²¹and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,²²who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Mark

Chapter 1

¹²At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert,¹³and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.¹⁴After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.¹⁵"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

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.