Sunday, February 18, 2024
First Sunday of Lent (B)
V¹ -, V² -, V³ -, R¹ -, R² -, R³ -,
Office- Psalter Week 1
Mass prop. Creed. Preface of Lent 1
Vestment: Violet
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
Vesper I of the First Sunday of Lent
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
RITE OF ELECTION OR ENROLLMENT: Today Mother Church celebrates the “Rite of Election or Enrollment of Names” for the Catechumens who are to be admitted to the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil…
Theme of the Sunday: THE START OF A NEW HUMANITY.
The theme linking the three readings today is the destruction of the world ruled by evil, and the beginning of a new world. The first reading presents this theme through the story of the flood that purified the world of sin and gave rise to a new people. The second reading takes up the theme of the flood and applies it to Baptism, the sacrament that marks the birth of a new person. The gospel tells us that the victory over sin began with Jesus who defeated evil during his life. By following him, the new Adam, we can become a new people.
NO GLORIA
FIRST READING
God’s covenant with Noah, delivered from the waters of the flood.
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 9:8-15)
God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “behold, I establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “this is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.”
The word of the Lord.
Also Read: Daily Reading for Saturday, February 17th, 2024
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 25:4-5ab.6 and 7bc. 8-9 (R. cf. 10)
R/. All your paths, O Lord, are mercy and faithfulness,
for those who keep your covenant.
O Lord, make me know your ways.
Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
For you are the God of my salvation. R/.
Remember your compassion, O Lord,
And your merciful love,
For they are from of old.
In your merciful love remember me,
Because of your goodness, O Lord. R/.
R/. All your paths, O Lord, are mercy and faithfulness,
for those who keep your covenant.
Good and upright is the Lord;
He shows the way to sinners.
He guide the humble in right judgement;
To the humble he teaches his way. R/.
SECOND READING
“Baptism now saves you.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 3:18-22)
Beloved: Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
The word of the Lord.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Matthew 4:4b
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
GOSPEL
“He was tempted by satan, and the angels ministered to him.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:12-15)
At that time: the spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of God, and saying, “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
In his forty days and forty nights of fasting in the wilderness, Jesus faced temptations from the evil one. Let us ask him to abide with us in our moments of temptation, that we may remain faithful to him.
FOR THE CHURCH: that Bishops, priests, and all ministers of the Gospel may bear courageous witness of fidelity to Christ and, by so doing, show the world the way that leads to God. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR WORLD LEADERS: that they may be inspired by the spirit of the season of lent to act with honesty, integrity, and love for the truth. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR HOLINESS OF LIFE: that, during this season of lent and beyond, we may strive more to overcome the sins in our lives and better respond to the universal vocation to holiness. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THE SICK AND THE AGED: that they may experience the healing touch of God, our father, through the care given to them by medical personnel and by us, their brothers and sisters. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
Gracious God, giver of all good gifts, receive the humble prayers and needs presented to you by your people and keep us in your care. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
In today’s Gospel Jesus goes into the desert, Lent, a desert experience, revives our Christian life through traditional practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. During these forty days, returning to basics, we make a fresh start to breathe new life into our Christian identity. Our Sundays this Lent centers on covenant. In the Old Testament the old covenant was made and renewed. Now, in Christ, a new covenant is given to us; we were made part of it at baptism. Christ covenant, like that of a faithful spouse, is for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health. Can we say this of our response? Sometimes, drifting from the Lord, we look for love in the wrong places and are inevitably disappointed. Prayer, fasting and acts of charity are ways of assessing and reviving our fidelity to Christ. The Lord is faithful to us. Are we faithful to Him?
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL FOR LENT
If your waking up is not by your power, then, whenever you wake up you must go on your knees and acknowledge the greatness of the one who make you not only to wake up, but gives you the power to run around.
Heavenly Father, I give you thanks from the depth of my heart for giving me this day. It is only by your power that it is possible for me to wake up from sleep. May all glory and honour be to you name forever. Amen.
I offer myself to you, lead me in all I will do. Bless and favour the work of my hands so that I will be fruitful. Give me the grace to seek holiness of in all I do. Help me to love my neighbour as myself and to be kind to them always.
Through my actions may the hungry have something to eat, the thirsty have something to drink, the naked have something to wear, the sick and those in prison get the consolation they desire. Amen.
Work hard and put your trust in the Lord for He will see you through. May this day be a blessed and favourable one for you. Amen.
Let Us Pray,
Lord Jesus Christ, take all my freedom, my memory, my understanding, and my will. All that I have and cherish you have given me. I surrender it all to be guided by your will. Your love and your grace are wealth enough for me.Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more. Amen.
