Beginning a new journey

Podcast

• Listen to this homily

Scripture references

• Genesis 9:8-15
• 1 Peter 3:18-22
• Mark 1:12-15

Reflection

On Wednesday of this week, we began the journey of Lent.  Every time we encounter new beginnings, there is a part of us that yearns to make the best of another opportunity.  If we’re smart, we take a moment, even as we set out on this new adventure to ensure that we have enough resources to get the most out of the adventure that is about to unfold.

The Lenten season calls us to a renewed understanding of the importance of prayer in our lives.  Some of us might see this as a daunting challenge.  Responses like ‘I don’t know how to pray’ or ‘I have no idea where to start’ might swiftly come to mind, but in answer to these calls for help, we have the riches of our scriptural tradition and the experience of the Saints to teach us about the possibilities that unfold when we open ourselves to the possibility of conversation with God.

The book of Genesis recounts the story of Noah, a person of great faith.  He didn’t understand why he was building the ark, but he responded to the Lord’s call and the result was that he and his family were saved from the flood.  In fact, because of his faith, God established a new covenant with us, promising that such an all-encompassing tragedy would never happen again (Gn 9:8-11).

The Church has long held that God uses moments of suffering as opportunities for grace, and so the image of the flood has been understood as a foreshadow of the grace bestowed in baptism.  From the moment of our own baptism, we are all called precious children of God.  Baptism does indeed take away the effects of original sin, but it also unites us with Jesus Christ who suffered and died once for our sins (1 Pet 3:18).

Jesus has already done all the hard work for us.  What a wonderful gift he has given us.  These next weeks are an opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of this gift.  We can never repay him for his goodness to us, but we can strive to live lives that mirror this love.

Whenever we are tempted to forget about the importance of prayer, or to put off an opportunity to spend time marvelling at the gift of this relationship of love created between us and God, perhaps it might help to remember that Jesus too was tempted.  Mark’s account of the temptation (Mk 1:12-15), recounted in today’s gospel, does not give all the details of Satan’s words and Jesus’ responses, but we know them oh too well.

The devil tempted Jesus with bread to fill his empty stomach.  How often are we tempted to slake our hunger with food that fills us up, but that really doesn’t satisfy?  Quick fixes to the challenges of life seldom turn out to be effective solutions.  Jesus was tempted with the possibility for great material wealth.  The front page of Friday’s Globe and Mail tried to paint a gloomy picture of the financial situation facing the world, but should our response be to resign ourselves to the misery that such a situation portrays?  No amount of monetary riches can compare with the true wealth of knowing that we are loved.  This gift of love is not something to be toyed with or tested.  Love is a free gift, given to us by our God; we should spend this Lenten period, and our entire lives, giving thanks.