Sunday, February 26
Gen. 9:8-15 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:12-15
For too long we have thought that Lent is a time for us to sacrifice our wants and our desires, to give up things in order to devote ourselves to God. The readings for today and all the Sundays of Lent show us that, in a sense, the opposite is true. This is not a time for us to deny ourselves of something, but a time for us to receive. We are not the ones who are meant to accomplish great things for God. Rather, it is God who acts; it is God who makes the sacrifices; it is God who accomplishes great things for us.
We live in the middle of conflicts of all kinds. We become victims of forces beyond our control and we have no place to hide. We are completely vulnerable and can only cling to the hope that somehow God is with us.
In the midst of these conflicts, it is God who initiates a relationship with us. And the sign of this relationship is the “rainbow.” A rainbow usually appears after a storm. Ever since I was a kid, seeing a rainbow always made me smile. Now, whenever I see a rainbow, I feel privileged. And sometimes I’ve seen a “double rainbow.” A rainbow unites heaven and earth and is meant to reassure us that God is smiling upon us. The first scripture reading tells us that a rainbow is the sign of a pact between God and humans, not just a general pact but a personal pact. “You will be my Abba and I’ll be your loving child, and I’ll show it by the way that I act.” Every time I see a rainbow it reminds me of this “deal” with God and humanity and with my Abba and little old me.
In today’s Mass readings, twice we read the following: “one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” That is why Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the desert trying to figure out what His Abba wanted from Him. Only after being fed the word of His Abba was Jesus ready to start His public preaching.
It is not unlike us when we are sick enough to go to the hospital. We worry. We suffer. We are in pain. We flirt with death. And it is natural to “make a deal” with God: “If I get through this illness, then I promise . . . . . .” We make a deal! But we need to remind ourselves that we’re already in a covenant relationship with God. Being isolated in a hospital bed is like being in the desert. We are alone with ourselves, with our thoughts, with our Abba! Suffering and pain usually isolates us and also “brings us inside.” I think that it’s a good thing to “go in.” We get to know ourselves better and we can take advantage of getting in touch with what lies beneath our surface.
As I’ve said, the rainbow usually comes after a storm. And even though the storm can cause damages, the rainbow assures us that we are “in favor” with God. God is our Abba and we are God’s children! We are never, never alone, even when we feel all alone. Way down deep, below our surface conflicts, God is in us. Very comforting!
Lent is a time for us to realize and recognize that God is in us!
Kenn Rancourt
Chaplain
