February 2021

The word “repent”, which we heard in today’s Gospel, is derived from the Greek word metanoia, which means a change of heart, seeing things differently, a new direction, a fresh beginning. The Gospel writers tell us that it was after John the Baptist had been arrested that Jesus began His mission with the message, “Repent, and believe the Good News.” Jesus prepared for this by spending time in the wilderness, where he was, in Mark’s words, “tempted by Satan”. Our first two readings use images relating to water to convey the idea of a new start. The covenant between God and Noah, made after the great flood, is symbolized by the rainbow, which is itself caused by light refracting through water droplets. Through the water of baptism, referred to by Peter in his letter, we are saved by a pledge “made to God from a good conscience”, not from fear. This is the repentance, the change of direction, which Jesus preached – going forward with joy, knowing that the Lord is with us.

Epic stories of a great flood are found in the mythologies of many ancient peoples, and the writers of the book of Genesis took these narratives into their own context in order to make sense of the world in which they lived. In his first letter, Peter sees the Noah story through a new lens, the lens of Jesus as the beloved Son of God, the central figure of the new covenant. We may be far away in both distance and time from that crowd gathered 2,000 years ago in the dusty streets of Jerusalem, but the message is the same. The Good News came for our time too. So, as we carry the Gospel story with us today, how will we spend our Lenten time in the wilderness, a place where we can really get down to basics? Mark’s account mentions wild beasts, but also that there were angels to look after Jesus. We are never going to be able to escape all danger in this world. We have to face it and find solutions. Like Jesus, we can be assured that we are being looked after and guided to a place of safety. In our prayers, especially in situations that we find difficult and challenging, we can ask for His help and inspiration. We can discuss our problems with each other, and try to find solutions that are helpful and achievable. And we can remember above all that, as was promised through the sign of the rainbow, God is present with us always. As Jesus assures us in the Gospel, “the kingdom of God is close at hand”. If we open our minds and hearts, we will find it.