Preparing for the Mass - March 1, 2009

First Sunday of Lent
The readings

First Reading Gn 9:8-15
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Second Reading: 1 Pt 3:18-22
Gospel Reading: Mk 1:12-15

First - for the children.

Now for us big kids.
From getting to know the readings.  Thoughts from the Early Church to help illuminate the the Gospel reading:

"From this episode therefore our first lesson is that human life on earth is a life of warfare, and the first thing Christians must expect is to be tempted by the devil. As Scripture tells us, we have to be prepared for temptation, for it is written: When you enter God’s service, prepare your soul for an ordeal.

The second lesson Christ desires to impress upon us by his own example is that we should not lightly expose ourselves to temptation, for we read that it was the Holy Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness. Mindful of our frailty rather, we must be on the watch, praying not to be put to the test, and keeping ourselves clear of every occasion of temptation."

graphic source and caption: The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan   (Mk 1:12-13a).