First Sunday of Lent

Reflection

In this first Sunday of Lent, the Scripture prepares and welcomes us in a special way to the Lenten season that has just begun. The readings today emphasize the importance of spirit and faith in the written word and covenant.  Throughout both readings, it is made known that it is only through God’s covenant that we, His people, are saved. We see in the Gospel that it is this faith in the word that sustains Jesus through His time in the desert. Jesus did, “not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”  As Jesus traveled through the desert, He was able to resist temptation and find perseverance through faith in the Lord and His word. We, as people of Christ, will all have moments in our lives where we may be faced with similar struggles and temptations. It is in these moments that we must offer everything up to the Lord and find solace and strength in His words. 

As we begin our Lenten journey, we will continually be reminded of the sheer power and grace of the Lord’s word. We, as disciples of Christ, may not always understand or know what is happening in the world around us, and it is in moments like this that the word acts not only to encourage but to ground us. For this reason, we need to invest a renewed faith in the power of the word because the word of God serves as our bedrock of faith. Let us praise the good Lord and take special care to listen to His word, for it is through His word that we are saved. 

Prayer

Lord, let us be mindful of the message of hope and faith that You handed down to us, and help us to always see the glory of Your good news.

Meg Murray, ’18

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15

Psalm 25:4-9

Second Reading:  1 Peter 3:18-22

Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website