FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B
Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm 24:4-6,7-9
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:12-15
RENEW YOUR COVENANT WITH GOD
Today being the first Sunday in the season of Lent, we reflect from the first reading on the covenant God made with us from the very beginning after he had saved the family of Noah from the flood. God decided never to destroy the world again with water but to continue his plan for our salvation. This is why he called Abraham and his descendants and sent moses and the prophets to liberate the people of Israel.
St Paul tells us that the greatest covenant God has with us is the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh. The coming of Christ assures our salvation. We also have been baptized into Christ and our sins have been washed away not our bodily dirt. This is why St Paul tells us in the second reading that baptism now saves us from evil and sin.
In this lenten season, we are to try and keep our own part of the covenant. We are to avoid living as pagans who have no moral judgement and live lives of lack of self control, lies, anger that leads to sin, stealing, lack of generosity, empathy and sympathy, and an unforgiving heart (Ephesians 4:17-32). This is why we are called to fast, pray and give alms during this lenten season to boost our spiritual growth.
In the gospel reading, we see how Jesus was tempted by the devil, the same way we are tempted daily in different ways. We are tempted when we are most vulnerable just as Jesus was tempted when he was hungry. Many of us fall easily to temptations and are not able to fulfill our promises not to sin again.
We pray for the grace of God to keep our promises to be attuned to him and not to sin again. God help us. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP
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