Mark 1:12-15

Genesis 9:8-15

Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

1 Peter 3:18-22

Mark 1:12-15

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, when your people sinned, you did not abandon them. You reestablished the first covenant and blessed the family of Noah. You created me to share in your divine life. Help me today to choose the path that leads to life with you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Noah and the History of Salvation: During the season of Lent, the first readings guide us through the important moments of the history of salvation in the Old Testament. This year, we start our journey through that history with Noah and the renewal of the covenant of creation. In many ways, Noah appears in the Book of Genesis as a new Adam figure. Just as Adam dwelled in peace with the animals in the Garden of Eden and named them, Noah was surrounded by the animals of creation in the Ark. Just as water covered the earth before God brought forth the land on the third day, Noah saw the waters cover the earth and the land reemerge after the flood. Just as God gave Adam the Sabbath as the sign of the covenant of creation, God gave Noah the rainbow as the sign of the renewed covenant of creation. The goal of the first covenant of creation was to offer humanity a path to share in divine life. The goal of the renewed covenant of creation was the promise of salvation from sin through water.

2. Jesus as a New Adam in the Desert: While Noah is one of many new Adam figures in the Old Testament, Jesus is revealed to us as the ultimate New Adam. Just as the old Adam was surrounded by animals when he was tempted by the serpent in the Garden, Jesus, the new Adam, was surrounded by “wild beasts” when he was tempted by the devil in the desert (Mark 1:13). The old Adam succumbed to three temptations of the fruit of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis tells us that when our first parents looked at the fruit of the tree, they saw that it was “good for food.” This symbolizes the disordered desire for pleasure. Second, they were tempted because the fruit was a “delight to the eyes.” This symbolizes the disordered desire for possessions. Third, they were tempted because the fruit was desirable to make one wise. This symbolizes the disordered desire for worldly power. Instead of seeing wisdom as a gift given to those who lead as servants of the community, wisdom is used and abused for one’s selfish gain. While the Gospel of Mark does not detail the temptations Jesus faced in the desert, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke do. Jesus was tempted by the pleasure of eating, adoring Satan to gain the wealth of the nations, and testing God to gain the admiration of others. Unlike the old Adam who gave into the three temptations of the serpent, the New Adam was victorious over the temptations of the devil.

3. Peter’s Reflection on the Story of Noah: In his Letter to the Christian communities in Asia Minor, Peter brings up the story of Noah and points out how it prefigures the sacrament of Baptism. Just as the family of Noah was “saved through water,” the members of the family of God are saved through the waters of Baptism. The waters of the flood cleansed the world of corruption and wickedness. The waters of Baptism cleanse the believer of the corruption and wickedness of sin. Noah and his family built the Ark in faith and passed through the waters of judgment (1 Peter 3:20) into a new life and a renewed covenant with God (Genesis 9:8:17). “So, too, Baptism, is the sacrament of faith (Mark 16:16) that brings us new life (Romans 6:4) and makes us members of the New Covenant (CCC, 1219)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, p. 455).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you were victorious during your forty days in the desert. You did not give in to the temptations of the serpent. You chose the word of your Father over the voice of the devil. Help me to listen to your Word, share in your victory, and conquer sin during these forty days of Lent. 

Resolution: What is my number one temptation? How can I, with God’s grace, do better in my battle against sin?