Sunday, February 22, 2015
1st Sunday of Lent
1st Reading: Gen 9:8-15
2nd Reading: 1 P 3:18-22
Gospel: Mk 1:12-15
Then the Spirit drove him into the desert. Jesus stayed in the desert forty days and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, but angels ministered to him.
After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching. He said, “The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and believe the Good News.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Jesus underwent strong temptations for forty days. The same period of forty days appear many times in the Bible. During the crafting of the Ten Commandments Moses was with the Lord for forty days and forty nights (Ex. 34:28). When Elijah was fearful of reprisal from Jezebel after the showdown at Mt. Carmel at which the prophets of Baal were all defeated and killed, an angelic meal strengthened him for the journey of forty days to Mt. Horeb where he heard the word of God (1 Kings 19:8). Goliath came for forty days before being killed by David (1 Sam 17:16). Jonah warned the City of Nineveh they had 40 days until God would overthrow the city. The people repented in those 40 days and God spared the city (Jonah 3:4). Jesus was seen on earth 40 days after His crucifixion (Acts 1:3). Moses’ face shone after 40 days on the mountain (Ex. 34:29). Noah waited another 40 days after it rained before he opened a window in the Ark (Gen 8:6). It rained for 40 days and 40 nights when God wanted to cleanse the world and start over (Gen 7:12).
The foregoing passages involved God’s major act of transformation in the lives of his people. He gave the commandments through Moses for his people to observe. He emboldened the last prophet Elijah who was pursued by the enemies. He transformed his people into victors over the giant Goliath through David. He gave Nineveh another chance at life when they responded positively to the call to repentance. Jesus’ appearance 40 days after the crucifixion changed forever the dispositions of his followers. God cleansed the face of the earth through Noah.
In conquering temptations for forty days at the desert, Jesus transformed the nature of temptation from being insurmountable to being manageable for those who focus on God’s will. At the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus laid down the secret of surviving all forms of temptation from the devil when he prayed: “Father, not my will but yours be done.”
Lent is our forty-day chance to allow God to transform our lives. Let our focus be on God’s will and so muster enough strength sustained by God’s grace to conquer temptations.
— Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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