Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture
READING 1GN 9:8-15
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)
Fun fact 1:
Noah is saved by water because he built a boat. There is a deeper message here; we are all saved by water and we all need a boat. More when you get to the 2nd reading below.
Fun fact 2:
1 Peter 3 (our 2nd reading) is about “The Christian in a Hostile World” It answers the question, “what is our role in the World?”
In R1, we’re at a very important part of the Old Testament; it’s God’s covenant with Noah. This is before God’s covenant with Abraham, and it is right after God wipes out all of his people with the flood. Remember that God was so fed up with his people and the sin they constantly lived in, that he decided to wreak havoc and wipe them all out – except for Noah, the only righteous man in his eyes. He sets a bow in the clouds – a rainbow – to show his love.
What sign have you seen lately that reminds you of his love for you? I have a short story: One night a few years ago, I was driving home at night with a friend and our 3 boys. We’d just gone to a Mother-Son Valentines Dance. It was pitch black.
Suddenly I noticed a large bird of prey flying right above the windshield. It was big, beautiful, and so white! So pure! I got the slightest glimpse of it and noticed the roundness of its head – it was an OWL!
Owls are my most favorite creature. I had at that time, only seen 3 in my life in their natural habitat. I was beyond thrilled. I was ecstatic to have had that amazing encounter with God’s creation.
And God knows me, he knows every hair on my head. Perhaps it was a sign of love from Him.
A barn owl flying at night
Open your eyes this week and see the signs God has in mind for you.
God said to Noah:
“See, I am now establishing my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals
that were with you and came out of the ark.
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.”
“This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you
and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign
of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth,
and the bow appears in the clouds,
I will recall the covenant I have made
between me and you and all living beings,
so that the waters shall never again become a flood
to destroy all mortal beings.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9.
(THE PSALM IS A “RESPONSE” TO WHAT WE HEARD IN THE 1ST READING)
“YOUR WAYS, O LORD, ARE LOVE AND TRUTH TO THOSE WHO KEEP YOUR COVENANT.”
This Is All About Covenants. God’s Covenant With His People. We Are To Lean On Him And Learn From Him By Following His Ways.
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.REMEMBER THAT YOUR COMPASSION, O LORD,
AND YOUR LOVE ARE FROM OF OLD.
IN YOUR KINDNESS REMEMBER ME,
BECAUSE OF YOUR GOODNESS, O LORD.
READING 2 1 PT 3:18-22
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).
The main theme here is “Encouragement to fidelity in spite of suffering.” Or, “Be faithful even though we suffer.” We are in Lent now, and are encouraged to see the role of suffering in our lives. To see that it has purpose.
Why is Noah here? Because this reading talks about being “Saved Through Water.” Well Noah was Saved Through the flood waters (fortunately he had a boat) – his life was spared while others died in their sin.
We too are saved through the waters of baptism.
The Church is our boat – it is our way out of the sinful world in which we live. Who else can we help God pull from the water and into the boat of salvation this lent? How can we be his instrument?
Beloved:
Christ suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,
who had once been disobedient
while God patiently waited in the days of Noah
during the building of the ark,
in which a few persons, eight in all,
were saved through water.
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
It 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
and is at the right hand of God,
with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
GOSPELMK 1:12-15
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)
The Gospel today is about Jesus going to the desert – removing himself from the crowds -retreating. This is what lent is supposed to be for us – a retreat away from worldly pleasures, conversations that don’t fill us or help us grow, a retreat away from the busy-ness of life.
This is hard to do. It sure is hard for me. But even knowing it’s Lent, waking up to think of a way to celebrate Lent in some small way today, it is one step toward living that retreat.
Finally, we see the overarching theme of Mark’s entire gospel in the final verse: The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and Believe in the Gospel. We are called throughout lent to repent!
We are callout of sin and darkness and into forgiveness and light. May you feel the peace of retreat in a small or large way this week. May you notice a sign from God that is just for you. And may you find a piece of joy in a suffering you endure, knowing it is The Way to Him!
“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Banquet of the Word 