Word Wide Open: The First Sunday of Lent (B) - 2/18/24

First Reading (Genesis 9:8-15)

A reading from the Book of Genesis.

God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 

"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."

God added:

"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."

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Do you have any questions about this reading? Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Are living things at odds with God? How can we have peace with God? 

Second Reading (1 Peter 3:18-22)

A reading from the First Letter of St. Peter. 

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.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Do you have any questions about this reading? Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How do we put the flesh to death?

Gospel (Mark 1:12-15)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

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."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Do you have any questions about this reading? Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What are we called to do when we are in the desert? What does it mean that it is the time of fulfillment?