Ebanghelyo: Marcos 1:12-15
Kayat itinulak siya ng Espiritu sa disyerto, at apatnapung araw siyang nanatili sa disyerto. Tinukso siya ni Satanas; kasama niya ang mga hayop, at pinaglingkuran siya ng mga anghel.
Pagkadakip kay Juan, pumunta si Jesus sa Galilea. Doon niya ipinahayag ang magandang balita ng Diyos sa pagsasabing “Sumapit na ang panahon; magbagong-buhay at maniwala sa magandang balita; lumapit na nga ang Kaharian ng Langit.”
Pagninilay
The readings of this first Sunday of Lent speak of temptation, conversion and good news. The first reading refers to the promise and covenant after a catastrophic event, meaning, a good news after a great failure. In the second reading, Peter meditates on the death of Jesus that gives life: life after a seeming failure on the cross. The Gospel account for today, though brief, is dense. It refers to intense preparation of Jesus in the desert, like a prophet, for His up-coming ministry of announcing the good news. Here Jesus is tried and tempted in every way but came out announcing the good news: “Sumapit na ang panahon; magbagong-buhay at maniwala sa magandang balita; lumapit na nga ang Kaharian ng Langit.” “Tinukso siya ni Satanas; kasama niya ang mga hayop, at pinaglingkuran siya ng mga anghel.” This preparation consists of a spiritual battle. Every great mission of a decisive importance needs equally great and decisive preparation. We too need such preparation in order to live fully the promise of the gospel. Lent is a privilege time for this spiritual preparation to benefit the resurrection of Jesus. Repent and believe in the Gospel. To repent is not to live in guilt the sins of the past but to open-up to the great possibilities of resurrected life offered to us. To believe in the Gospel is not only to uphold the truth of the Kingdom but to listen to it with obedient heart.
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