Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missal January-February 2024

1st Sunday of Lent (B)
1st week, psalter

FIRST READING

From the Book of Genesis (Gen 9:8-15)
God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals, with every animal of the earth that came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you: never again shall all flesh be destroyed by the waters of the flood, nor shall there ever again be a flood to devastate the earth.” God said: “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for all future generations. I set my bow in the clouds, so that it may be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I gather the clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature in all flesh, and never again shall the waters become a flood to destroy all flesh.” – The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the First Reading

After Adam’s sin, God begins to establish a series of covenants with humanity, one after another, culminating in the covenant of covenants, the definitive and eternal one: his very body and his very blood. Beyond this, there is nothing more. Thus, the Old Testament can also be called the “history of the covenants.” This progression is a sign that God does not grow weary and that, even when humanity proves rebellious, he establishes a new covenant and sets new conditions. The entire story of the prophets is built upon these reminders and new promises of communion. God never stops; he is patient. But certainly there is then a final response, especially after the “new and eternal covenant,” because life cannot consist of continually starting over: on our part, decisions and commitments are necessary. The encounter with the crucified Jesus is the sign of this definitive covenant, which must always be present, nourish our hope, give meaning to our lives, and help us endure our trials. In the end, for us too, it is a matter of patience. Not patience with God, but with ourselves. 

SECOND READING

From the First Letter of Saint Peter the Apostle (1 Pt 3:18-22)
Beloved, Christ died once for all for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God; put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. In the spirit he went to proclaim the message even to the imprisoned spirits, who once had refused to believe, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being built, in which a few people, eight in all, were saved through water. This water, as an image of baptism, now saves you too; it does not remove dirt from the body, but is an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is at the right hand of God, after ascending into heaven and having received sovereignty over the angels, the Principalities, and the Powers. – The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Second Reading

Saint Peter describes in a few words the “cycle” of Christ the redeemer and savior: he died for our sins, descended into the underworld to free the souls of the righteous who were waiting, rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of God, sovereign over the angels, the saints, and all creation. These things concern him, but what are the consequences for me? Peter tells us in the same passage: the water of Baptism, that is, the gift of the Holy Spirit who makes us children of God, “now saves you too.” Through Baptism, then, we too enter this “cycle” of Christ, because we are his body. We too die to ourselves and to our passions, renouncing sin and offering our sufferings; we too descend into the underworld of our dark inner places, bringing there the light of the living Christ; we too rise with the Lord through faith and acts of charity, revealing God’s love within us; we too are, in some measure, sovereigns of creation, using it not for our selfish desires, but to manifest the goodness of the Lord Jesus.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 1:12-15)
At that time, the Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God and saying: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.” – The Gospel of the Lord. 

Commentary on the Gospel of the Day

Mark’s Gospel does not dwell on Jesus’ temptations, as the other evangelists do, but sums everything up in two words: “He remained in the desert and was tempted by Satan.” Indeed, this is already a great mystery… How can Satan tempt God to evil? But Jesus was also human, and he wished to feel and experience in himself the weight of the flesh, in order to lead his human nature into obedience to the Father. He knows that all of us human beings are tempted by Satan, and by becoming human, he wished to take on everything that is part of our experience, except sin. Thinking that Jesus was tempted makes us feel him closer, but knowing of his victory also makes us more aware that the devil can be defeated. We need only not give him attention, not speak with him, and not listen to his reasoning. When we are tempted, let us turn away, despising the evil one and giving him no importance; let us turn and speak with Jesus, saying: “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Let us say it slowly, allowing the words to enter our hearts, and Jesus will immediately make us share in his victory over the devil. In this way, we will believe in the Gospel, as today’s Gospel passage asks.