Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

 First Sunday of Lent, Year B – February 18, 2018.

Readings: Genesis 9:8-15; Ps 24:4-6,7-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Gospel – Mark 1:12-15.

Theme: Call to Faithfulness!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, we have come to another season of Lent. The liturgy of Ash Wednesday has already ushered us into unlocking the mysteries of our redemption. The traditional practice of receiving ashes which symbolizes the call to repentance and the fact we are dust and shall return to dust has prepared the way for us to truly reflect about this holy season. What is more, the cardinal practices of prayer, fasting and alms giving challenge us to embrace the call to faithfulness which the readings of today talk about. We shall situate the readings in the Nigerian pastoral context while hoping to draw lessons which would serve as our spiritual meal.

 

Explication of the Readings

The first reading (Genesis 9:8-15) reveal God’s covenantal love for humanity through Noah and his family. It demonstrates his faithfulness to the human race through the sign of a rainbow. The rainbow was also a sign of Covenantal Love for human beings. As simplistic as it is, God promised not to destroy the world again through flood. What is more, he also promised to always remember his Covenant not only with man but with the whole of creation. The striking point of the reading is God’s call to save and conserve all that he has created – a challenge to take issues of ecology seriously.

The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 24:4-6,7-9) reiterates the theme of faithfulness when it says, “Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.” The Psalm particularly notes that the Lord “shows the path to those who stray” and “he guides the humble in the right path” noting that “he teaches his way to the poor.”  The Psalm evokes faith in God who is himself faithful to those who place their total trust in him.

In the second reading (1 Pet. 3:18-22), St. Peter draws a typology between the events of the Old and the New testament by stating that just as a small group of eight people were saved “by water” during Noah’s time, Christians are redeemed by the water of baptism which now saves. He stresses that the water of baptism does not wash away physical dirt. On the contrary, he states that it is “a pledge made of God from a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has entered heaven and is at God’s right hand,” by subjecting everything to himself.  Again, the sacred text buttresses God’s faithfulness in Christ who has ransomed us and calls us to faithfulness. 

The short gospel reading (Mark 1:12-15) recalls Jesus’ faithfulness in resisting temptation from the devil. It was the forty days fasting which we commemorate during Lent that gave him the power to withstand the evil one. Little wonder then, we are told that the Angels looked after him. In summary, the gospel reveals Jesus as a faithful servant of God who resisted the trappings of the enemy by choosing to please his father by being faithful - The gospel closes with a call to repent and believe the Good News. 

 

Pastoral Lessons 

1. At Lent, we are reminded that just as God saved Noah and his family, he is able to shower his blessings upon us when we are faithful to him through our annual Lenten observances of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

2. Just as the rainbow signified the covenantal relationship between God and Noah, our rainbow remains the beauty of creation which we are obliged to protect by eschewing illegal killing of animals, destruction of the ecosystem, bush burning and checking the adverse effects of global warming.   

4. We are challenged to pursue faithfulness and love because God has revealed that he keeps his Covenant for those who love him.

3.  St. Peter’s typology of the waters of the flood and the new waters of baptism positions us to better appreciate our redemption in Christ and the obligation to be charitable throughout Lent and beyond.

4.  Like Jesus our Master, we are urged to always use the most portent spiritual artilleries namely, prayer and fasting in resisting the devil.

 

5. Just as Jesus engaged in prayer and fasting before beginning his public ministry, Christians are reminded to do same before beginning anything in life.

6. Our liturgy tells us that because Jesus was tempted, we too must be rest assured that the devil will always come knocking which calls for vigilance and prayer.

7. It assures that temptation in itself is not a sin but yielding to it is what constitutes sin.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. The liturgy of Ash Wednesday has already ushered us into unlocking the mysteries of our redemption.

2. The traditional practice of receiving ashes symbolizes the call to repentance and the fact that we are dust and shall return to dust.

3. The liturgy reminds us about God’s call to save and conserve all that he has created – a challenge to take issues of ecology seriously.

4. The Psalm evokes faith in God who is himself faithful to those who place their total trust in him.

5. The Sacred Text buttresses God’s faithfulness in Christ who has ransomed us and calls us to to be faithful.

Conclusion

I would like to end with a beautiful quote I got from Bishop Ayo-Maria Atoyebi of Ilorin Diocese while we were in the spiritual year.  He said: “The devil is an economist; he does not use his artilleries where he has already conquered.” This means that if you are already a customer of the devil, he would not waste his time on you because he knows that you are already in his net; he’s sure that like a familiar customer waiting for a whore, you are there at his disposal 24/7. Conversely, it is those who are trying to be holy and spiritual that he concentrates on as his point of target.

This calls for prayer, fasting or mortification and acts of charity. The sort of Lenten Observance God wants is that which is carried out in quite fidelity. In a world in which people prefer to trumpet their good deeds, we are challenged to resist that temptation by asking God to grant us the disposition to follow him in the Stations of the Cross so as to reap the blessings of the season. Have a terrific week!