1st Sunday of Lent (Year B)
Scripture: Gen. 9:8-15; Ps. 24:4-6, 7-9;1 Pet. 3:18-22; Mk. 1:12-15
We have embarked on our journey of Lent with Ash Wednesday. In his Ash Wednesday homily, Pope Francis told us that this journey is a return journey to our loving and merciful Father. He referred to various people in his homily who made their journeys in the Bible; such as the exodus of Israelites, the prodigal son and the leper who returned to fall at the feet of Jesus after being cured. All of them made journeys to return to the Father. Once they were in the embrace of God, the Father or Jesus, they were saved.
All of us are pilgrims on the earth and we are making this journey of life. Today’s liturgy tells us stories about Noah and Jesus. They too made journeys in their lives. They revealed to us how we should make ourselves worthy to find a place in the Ark or in the Kingdom of God. They had various similarities in their lives. Let us reflect on their lives so as to find ourselves with the Lord in his kingdom/Ark.
The book of Genesis gives very little account of Noah (Gen. 6:11-9:19). Noah lived in a time when human wickedness had increased on earth and that the thoughts of his heart sharped nothing but evil the whole day. God regretted having created man on the earth and his heart grieved (Gen. 6:5-6). Noah withstood all the temptations. He avoided evil to remain steadfast with God. Noah could do this because he was a just man, blameless among the people of his time, he had a personal relationship with God. The scriptures say, he walked with God (Gen. 6:9).
Let us concentrate on the phrase of walking with God. There are only three people in the whole of the Bible, who walked with God; Enoch, Noah and Levi. Moses encouraged the people of Israel to walk after God. Abraham was said to walk before God. But only these three men walked with God. Walking after God means to follow God. Walking before God means to be conscious of God’s presence. But walking with God is like you are closely relating to him. You talk, laugh, share, listen to him from your heart. You are focused on him. You do not get distracted. You enjoy his company. We walked with those who are in agreement. If we do not like a person, we avoid him/her in our lives. Walking with God means to be in communion with God.
Because of Noah’s righteous living, God saved Noah. He made a covenant with him. He made him like a second Adam. He re-created the world from him and his sons. He made the new covenant with him. he promised not to destroy the world. He gave him the sign of his love i.e. the rainbow. Noah became a new example for humanity. But sin in humanity continued to dominate him. God made covenants with Moses and his people even after Noah but it was not of any use. At last, he made a lasting covenant with humanity by sending his Son on earth.
Today’s Gospel tells us Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He remained there for forty days and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts. The scholars tell us that Mark gives all these details to relate the experience of Israel in the wilderness of forty years. The presence of wild animals and the angels represent the garden and the new exodus. If Adam might have not sinned, then the wilderness would have been transformed into paradise. Jesus is portrayed here as someone who is not bound by the animosity between man and animals. He is above the created world. He is someone who walked with God the Father whereas Adam and Eve refused to walk with Him.
There could be a comparison made between Noah and Jesus. If Noah was the new beginning after Adam, then Jesus was also a new Adam. They both built the Ark. Jesus’ Ark is in the form of the kingdom of God. They preached righteousness in their lives. They were blameless before the eyes of God. They chose the good and evil as part of their Ark. Jesus called the sinners, publicans, tax collectors to be in his company. They were both humiliated by men of their time. They sent a dove, like the Spirit on earth. These similarities between both of them make us realize how we should be prepared to enter into the Ark/kingdom of God.
There is yet another newness found in the person of Jesus Christ. Today’s first reading tell us that God made a covenant with Noah. He gave him a sign i.e. the rainbow as a reminder that he would not destroy his creation. Jesus’ greatness is seen in God making him the bow that hangs before us to show that God continues to love us in spite of our sinfulness. The bow is nothing else but the crucified Jesus. Jesus is the new covenant. He who looks at the crucified Lord finds salvation.
St. Peter realized it. He was the witness of this covenant. Having died on the cross and resurrected, Jesus ascended to heaven and was glorified by the Father. His journey on earth was far superior than Noah. St. Peter reminds us in the second reading that Noah was saved through the waters of the flood so also the Christians receive their baptism in the Lord Jesus to be saved. The faith in God saved Noah from the floods so the faith in Christ will save us from the waters of baptism.
During this journey of life, after having received the baptism in Jesus Christ, we need to constantly walk with God. We need to be like Noah and Jesus; righteous, just and blameless. We need to heed the voice of Noah and Jesus: The time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News. Let this season of Lent help us to walk this journey with God.
