Repent and Believe in the Gospel

02-18-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

Welcome to the Season of Lent! The Season of Lent is a season of grace when through the tripartite holy practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we strive to climb and arrive at the glorious mountain of Easter, the season of renewal. The Lenten Season, which runs between Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper exclusive on Holy Thursday, has a double character, namely to prepare both Catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. The Catechumens, both with the Rite of Election and Scrutinies, and by catechesists, are prepared for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation; the faithful, ever more aentive to the Word of God and prayer, prepare themselves by Penance for the renewal of their Baptismal promises.

During Lent we shall “retire” the “Alleluia” and the “Gloria,” wear mostly purple vestments, desist from adorning the Altar with fl owers and musical instruments shall be played only to give necessary support to the singing. All these are aimed towards enabling a reflective liturgical environment for preparation for the glorious Season of Easter.

As noted above, one of the characteristics of Lent is the preparation of Catechumens for the Sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. It is in view of enlightening the Catechumens on the history of salvation that the First Reading dwells on the saving Grace of God that brought about regeneration after the flood that came as a consequence of human disobedience of Divine will. In the First Reading, both Catechumens and faithful are reminded that, through the waters of the flood (as in the waters of Baptism), God regenerates a new word and makes a covenant with Noah (at this point a type of Adam) and the survivors of the cleansing flood. The flood illustrates a pattern in the history of salvation where God’s mercy is always greater than His Justice. Although God justly could have brought about the complete end of the history of man and the earth with the flood, He had mercy on man and other animals by sparing each kind and making a solemn commitment to never again punish the whole earth the same way. We can see how the cleansing of the earth through the flood prefigures the regeneration of “a new creation” brought about by the cleansing waters of Baptism. We can also note how Noah’s ark, which acted as a vehicle that safely conveyed the saved to the “new earth,” prefigures the Church as a safe ark willfully instituted by Christ for the salvation of souls. These are the sentiments echoed by St. Peter in the Second Reading.

In the relatively short Gospel passage, Jesus is led by the Spirit to the desert where He is tempted by Satan and ministered to by the angels, a subtle reminder that although we too may be tried by the powers and ideals of this world, Divine help is always assured us. Whereas the first Adam failed to be faithful in the garden of Eden, the “New Adam” (Jesus) was able to triumph over temptation and sin through knowledge and obedience to the will of God, setting for humanity a perfect example. After He got news of John’s arrest, Jesus began the proclamation of the Gospel with greater urgency and His message was a simple but insistent call for repentance and belief in the Gospel. Repentance, turning away from the lure of evil and seeking God with urgency is the message of the Season of Lent. We pray that God will pour upon us the abundance of Grace we require to do this well.

Please be kind and may God bless you.

Fr. Manasseh