Lenten Reflections: Week One

Dear Engin,

As you know we are now in the season of Lent. In the following weeks to come, I will begin to post reflections from Sunday's Gospel as well as the works from CG for those who either can't make it for CG or those who want the Gospel to be dissected for easier understanding.

- Shimon

Mark 1:12-15

And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Drawing from Life's Experience

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it arrives? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, the eagle sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm; it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us.... and all of us will experience them... we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God.

The storms do not have to overcome us; we can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down; it is how we handle them.

None of us can escape from the storms of life that descend upon us. A death of a loved one, a sickness, the heartache of a child leaving home, the fear of growing older, this economic recession etc, all these unfortunate events are part and parcel of life. Yet, the eagle has a lesson to teach us all. The storms do not have to crush us or overpower us. Rather, we can soar above them as long as we trust in God who loves us. Yes! No matter how bad the storms are, God's love remains!

Meeting God in the Word

On this first Sunday of Lent, God reminds us of God's faithfulness, which is eternal and constant. God's faithfulness is what we can hold onto with joyful confidence.

In the first reading, we read about Noah and his family who survived the destructive flood because they placed their trust in God. In the safe haven of the ark, they rode high above the waves until the flood subsided and they reached dry land once again. God made a promise to Noah that there would never again be a destructive flood. After the immense thick rain clouds that drenched the whole earth faded away, a rainbow appeared as a sign of God's everlasting faithfulness to Noah, his children and all generations to come.

Today's economic recession can be likened to the great flood of Noah's time. Yet, God's rainbow continues to remain ever present and like Noah, we are called to live through stormy times with unwavering faith in God's love.

Many times, we are tempted to doubt and question God's faithful love for us, "I am a sinner through and through... how can God love me?" or "My family is in such a mess now, where is God?" This is why we need to intensify our prayer life by allocating time and space to be with the One who loves us the most. Lent is a time to face our storms head on! To enter the desert of our fears and to discover we are not alone. This 'desert' is also the inner space where God needs to reign again as King. There, in the desert of our heart, He will speak to us with words of love and rekindle our faith, hope and love.

In today's Gospel, Jesus was in the desert for forty days where he spent time with God His Father, in prayer. While being tempted in trying conditions, Jesus trusted that His Father would not abandon Him. Indeed, God sent angels to look after Jesus, the Beloved Son. When we face our fears, our faithful God can also minister to our needs.

'The time has come and the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe in the Good News.' (Mark 1:15) Let us listen to the cry of Jesus calling us out of our fears into the faithful embrace of the Father.

Questions to Ponder

What has been our attitude in facing moments of trial?
Have we found ourselves trying to discern God's will or solely relying on our own strength?
Can we name the fears that hold us back from responding to the call of Christ?
What steps can we take to create some space to listen to God each day?

Reaching Out

Many people are now feeling the impact of the recession. How can we, as a community, help those around us who are affected by this crisis? Spend time to develop concrete ways to assist a person/family in need.

Cell Group Prayer Buddy activities

Since this week will be the first time you’re introduced to your prayer buddy, do some self-introductions and share with each your individual prayer requests!

Cell Group Work

Go back home and dust off your bible. Compare Mark’s Gospel with Matthew’s and Luke’s. [Matt 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13] Contemplate the differences in the Gospels. How will your answers to the reflection questions differ if you were presented with Matthew’s or Luke’s Gospel instead? Say a prayer for guidance before you begin your reflection.

God our Father, in Your infinite love and goodness, You have shown us that prayer, fasting and almsgiving are remedies for sin. Accept the humble admission of our guilt and when our conscience weighs us down, let Your unfailing mercy raise us up. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen