TODAY’S READINGS
Let’s say something about each of today’s readings with the help of Dr. Bergsma’s The Word of the Lord:
“I will establish my covenant with you,
that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed
by the waters of a flood;
there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.” (v. 11)
“The flood illustrates a pattern in salvation history of God’s mercy being greater than his justice. Although God justly could have ended the history of the earth with the flood, nonetheless he has mercy on man and animals by going to great lengths to spare representatives of each kind, and then offers to them a new covenant at the end of the time of judgement, a new covenant which includes a solemn commitment to no longer punish in that same way. We can see the covenant with Noah as a foreshadowing of the New Covenant in Christ, which came after the long punishment of Israel in the exile and opened the door to endless mercy and forgiveness by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.” (pp. 68-69)
“Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.” (vv. 4-5)
“This desire is very far from the attitude that is just interested in the ‘minimum’ necessary to ‘get into heaven,’ or what the basic requirements of the Church are in order to ‘get the sacrament,’ or what are the ‘essentials’ that — as long as I observe them — I can ‘do my own thing.'” (p. 70)
“[Baptism] is not a removal of dirt from the body
but an appeal to God for a clear conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven…” (21-22a)
“Peter describes Baptism as ‘an appeal to God for a clear conscience.’ This unusual formulation can confuse people, but the Apostle means that the rite of Baptism is, in a sense,, a prayer to God for the cleansing of our consciences through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Only Baptism can truly clear our consciences by removing and forgiving sin and infusing us with ‘the mind of Christ’ (1 Cor 2:16).
“The Holy Spirit was poured out after the resurrection and ascension — and just as Peter recalled the resurrection and ascension in his sermon at the first Christian Pentecost (Acts 2:24-33), so now he ties the efficacy of Baptism to the resurrection and ascension. Jesus is now enthroned over all spiritual powers and pours out the Spirit on all who come to him in faith and humility — in particular through the waters of Baptism.” (p. 71)
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (v. 15)
“‘This is the time of fulfillment’ — the culmination of all covenants, including that with Noah. ‘The kingdom of God is at hand’ — this means not just ‘it is close,’ but ‘it is here, it has arrived.’ How? In the person of Jesus, who is the King. ‘Repent and believe in the gospel.’ ‘Repent’ means to cease and turn away from our sins. Sin can be defined as selfishness or also as breaking the covenant. Sin is what separates us from God — indeed, the only thing that can separate us, because sin is in its essence a rejection of love, and God is love.” (p. 72)
We are blessed to be Christians living in the time of fulfillment. While God cannot stop loving us (after all, “God is love” [1 Jn 4:8]), and “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39), God forbid that we fully willingly separate ourselves from the love of God through sin we know is serious. And, if we do commit mortal sin, the beautiful Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), the mercy of God, is just a priest away.
I’ve quoted generously from The Word of the Lord: Reflections on the Sunday Mass Readings for Year B. I cannot recommend more highly picking up your own copy — it will enrich your Sundays significantly. Also, consider checking out the weekly podcasts with the author and Scott Hahn, which go even deeper into the Sunday readings. Both are worth every penny — and vastly more.
Finally, following, find some important considerations regarding the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in Mark as shared by Jimmy Akin: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/jesus-ministry-begins-9-things-to-know-and-share
REMINDER
My daily ten-minute Eucharist for Lent vidcasts continue today, where we discuss some additional Bible and Eucharist resources before looking once more to the CCC where it provides us a glimpse at the Mass as celebrated in the second century.
God bless.
Unworthy Servant 