{"id":1419,"date":"2024-02-19T10:56:28","date_gmt":"2024-02-19T15:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/?page_id=1419"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:00:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:00:29","slug":"the-fist-sunday-of-lent-year-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/02\/19\/the-fist-sunday-of-lent-year-b\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2014The First Sunday of Lent &#8211; Year B"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1419\" class=\"elementor elementor-1419\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b8d22d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"74119\" data-id=\"b8d22d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99f195b\" data-eae-slider=\"63966\" data-id=\"99f195b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c77524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c77524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The First Sunday of Lent - Year B<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29e8d5c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"22263\" data-id=\"29e8d5c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-67a0cdb\" data-eae-slider=\"81263\" data-id=\"67a0cdb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d18128 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1d18128\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dfa228 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9dfa228\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The First Sunday of Lent - Year B<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b843ec0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b843ec0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading I<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5971ac2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5971ac2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/genesis\/9?8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Gn 9:8-15<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>God said to Noah and to his sons with him: &#8220;See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.&#8221;<br \/>God added: &#8220;This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the covenant I have made between me and you and all living beings, so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all mortal beings.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c94a22d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c94a22d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Responsorial Psalm<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c71d275 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c71d275\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/25?4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9.<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/><em><strong>R. (cf. 10) Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.<br \/><em><strong>R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your love are from of old. In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD.<br \/><em><strong>R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>Good and upright is the LORD, thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and he teaches the humble his way.<br \/><em><strong>R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4b3c53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a4b3c53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading II<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0839afb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0839afb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/1peter\/3?18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>1 Pt 3:18-22<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Beloved:<br \/>Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noa during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven<br \/>and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b854179 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b854179\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Verse Before the Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d19ef60 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d19ef60\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/4?4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mt 4:4b<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>One does not live on bread alone,<br \/>but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0a7342 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d0a7342\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe329db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe329db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/1?12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mk 1:12-15<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: &#8220;This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1deeea0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1deeea0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Exegesis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc6f8b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc6f8b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/genesis\/9?8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Gn 9:8-15<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>The flood is a sign of divine judgement: \u201cBehold, I will bring the waters of a great flood upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life under heaven. All things that are in the earth shall be consumed.\u201d (Gen 6:17) See also Gen 6:5-7; Gen 6:11-13; 2 Pet 2:5. Our first reading from Genesis is God\u2019s promise to us through Noah. It is God\u2019s confirmation of, and commitment to maintain, his relationship with the natural order- implicit in the act of creation &#8211; whereby he promised never again to destroy the earth with a flood. This divine pledge, given unconditionally to Noah and to every living creature on earth, was accompanied by the sign of the rainbow. The story of Noah is the story of salvation, a paradigm. God\u2019s promise of salvation is always with us. It is up to us to respond to that invitation. Human hands built the Ark. The invitation was out to all. Some responded and some did not. God remains loyal to His promises forever. Salvation is a two-way street. Salvation is a gift, but<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d728eba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d728eba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/25?4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9.<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>The way of Yahweh is the major theme of Psalm 25, i.e. Yahweh is love and compassion, kindness and goodness, and truth and justice. Those who keep the Covenant with Yahweh will experience is ways. To the humble He will teach His ways.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fd7e4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8fd7e4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/1peter\/3?18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>1 Pt 3:18-22<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Scripture scholars have dated 1 Peter to the year 65, the same year that they believe that Peter was crucified. The background is the beginning of the persecution of Nero. The beautiful passage today has a creed-like tone to it. Our Apostles Creed tells us that Jesus descended into Hell. An early Creed states that He descended to the depth of Hell or the farthest regions of Hell. Our pericope supports that idea, \u201cIn it He also went to preach to the spirits in prison.\u201d The idea is that Jesus traveled to the depth of God forsakenness to save us. St. Anslem once said, \u201cThat which is not assumed is not redeemed.\u201d Jesus fully assumed our fallen human nature to save us. He is in deep solidarity with us. He allowed Himself to be separated from the Father\u2019s love to the extent humanly possible to save us. In one of his sermons, St. Augustine preached that Christ, in His divine pre-existence preached<br \/>through Noah to the sinner of the flood. (Ser 164) The Ark prefigures baptism. The Church in the New Ark, the instrument of salvation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-063a338 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"063a338\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/1?12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mk 1:12-15<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Our Gospel passage today immediately follows the Baptism of Jesus. There is some very intense language and some powerful events unfolding. At the Baptism of Jesus, the Heavens were rent open, i.e. torn open. God\u2019s Spirit was seen in the form of a dove descending upon Jesus. The voice of God was heard. Now the Spirit is driving Jesus into the wilderness for forty days. The wilderness recalls the place where Israel was \u201ctested\u201d for forty years. (Which is often taken as the background for the forty days and nights) and echoes the beginning of the Gospel (see 1:3-4). But the \u201cforty-days\u201d more likely alludes to the fast of Moses (Deut 9:18) in the wilderness of Sinai and that of Elijah near Mt. Horeb (see 1 Kgs 19:8).<\/p><p>The Greek word that is translated as tempted is peiraz\u014d. It is most often translated as tested. The word In Hebrew, the concept of testing is most commonly expressed with the verbs ( \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05d7\u05b7\u05df b\u0101\u1e25an, \u201cto test\u201d) and ( \u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u05e1\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 n\u0101s\u00e2, \u201cto test\u201d), whose range of meaning is similar. The sense of b\u0101\u1e25an comes from the meaning of testing gold (Job 23:10; Zec 13:9); b\u0101\u1e25an is mainly used in reference to God testing people, as well as to people testing God. In Greek, the term that best corresponds with the Hebrew b\u0101\u1e25an is \u03b4\u03bf\u03ba\u03b9\u03bc\u03ac\u03b6\u03c9 (dokimaz\u014d, \u201cto test\u201d). The word dokimaz\u014d is also used in metaphors grounded in testing buildings (1 Cor 3:13) and precious metals (1 Pet 1:7) with fire. However, the most common term for testing in the nt is \u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03ac\u03b6\u03c9 (peiraz\u014d, \u201cto try\u201d), along with its related forms. The verb peiraz\u014d is used predominantly to express the testing of persons, including oneself (2 Cor 13:5). The rendering tested better evokes the theme of God\u2019s testing the people of Israel and of the suffering just person, who though tested by God through suffering remains faithful rather than sin and is called a child of God (Wis 2:12-20 and 5:1-23).1<\/p><p>Jesus turns from Satan and begins His public ministry. Mark clearly transitions between John the Baptist and Jesus. Our translation begins \u201cAfter John had been arrested.\u201d This could be translated \u201chanded over.\u201d It is the same wording that Mark uses for Jesus in the Passion Narrative. John proclaimed the way and the Kingdom of God coming. Now the Kingdom of God and the Way have arrived in the person of Jesus.<\/p><p>The first words of Jesus as He begins His ministry are substantially the same in all three synoptic Gospels. \u201cThis is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.\u201d The word for time is kairos. The Greek word cronos speaks of time as we tend to think of time, i.e. chronological time. Unfortunately, there is no good English translation for kairos. It has a connotation of being the correct or proper time. The mystics of our tradition often spoke of profound experiences of God where time seemed to stand still. I think that this is kairos time. Theologians speak of God as being outside of time, cronos time. I would argue the God lives in kairos time, the eternal present, eternal being.<\/p><p>The Kingdom of God in Mark and throughout the Gospels holds a tension between the present and the future. It is present now in Jesus and is evolving here on earth. In the parables Jesus often puts us as a part of the process of this evolution. Yet, at the same time this Kingdom is already fulfilled and awaits all who accept the Gospel, i.e. repent, and believe. It is best to look at the Kingdom through God\u2019s perspective, in kairos time. In any event, the Kingdom of God is now at hand in Jesus.<\/p><p>Jesus is immediately calling us to repentance and faith. (For a discussion on (metanoia see exegesis on Jonah Third Sunday of Ordinary Time B) Jesus is calling us to believe in the Good News. We often equate faith with an intellectual ascent of the mind, articulated in the creed that we pray. The underlying word is pistis and is used throughout Sacred Scripture. It is translated as faith or belief or saving faith as in the miracle stories. The word generally suggests not simply intellectual conviction but also trust and personal commitment often with an orientation toward a threatening future. As I reflect on the word, especially as it plays out in the Gospel of John, it seems to me that at its deepest level, faith is about opening ourselves to the indwelling Spirit of God. It is this oneness with God that is the goal of metanoia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b151ab elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4b151ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0721a21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0721a21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>1. Sacra Pagina, The Gospel of Mark, Donahue-Harrington, M.G., Page 66.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cab238 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5cab238\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflection \u2013 Personal Witness<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6873c79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6873c79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I love the change of seasons here in God\u2019s Country, i.e. the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Right now, I love even more the thought of spring coming sooner rather than later. Did you know that the word Lent comes from the Latin word lentus which means spring, as in the season that we now long for? Spring is a time of transition between winter and summer. Cold turns to warmth and darkness turns to light. In fact, all of nature seems to come back to life as the trees and plants start to bud and buds turn to leaves and flowers and grass spring from the earth. Think spring!<\/p><p>The Season of Lent is in fact a time of transition. It is a time to journey with Jesus from the desert to hill of Calvary and the cross of Good Friday. It is a time to die with Jesus and to enter into the darkness of the tomb. From the vantage point of the tomb, we are then able to look out to the bright light of Easter dawn. It is a time to walk with Jesus to the Father. Recall the words of<br \/>Jesus, \u201cFather may they be one as You and I are one.\u201d<\/p><p>The first reading of Lent from the Prophet Joel challenges us to rend our hearts open, to begin a journey within our own hearts. The purpose of the journey is to discover God who is already there waiting for us. The Gospel invites us to go into that \u201cinner room.\u201d Often that journey is a difficult one. It is difficult because of the protective shield that we build around our hearts over time. It is what scripture calls the hardness of heart. It is something that Jesus experienced in people and talked about often.<\/p><p>With that hardness comes apathy and a level of indifference that is striking. Pope Francis in his Lenten message a few years ago called for a break in what he referred to as a globalization of indifference. It seems that the entire world has developed a hardened heart. We have become desensitized by constant hate speech and senseless violence.<\/p><p><br \/>If we do manage to break through the barrier of our hearts, we often discover a clutter that we did not realize existed. A little house cleaning then becomes necessary. Lent is a time to do that \u201chouse\u201d cleaning. We need to get rid of all the stuff that becomes an obstacle to our relationship with God. Sometimes it is areas of sin that separates us from God. Most often I think that it is simply a preoccupation with the mundane of everyday life. Lent is a time to pause and reflect on our spiritual health, to assess our relationship with Jesus.<\/p><p>I pray that this Lent will be a wonderful spiritual experience for all of you. Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of us Your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of Your love. Amen.<\/p><p>In Jesus and Mother Mary,<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f32598 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4f32598\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div 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class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tI first encountered Fr. Glenn\u2019s preaching on Ash Wednesday, 2006.\u00a0 It only took one homily, and my family and I realized that Fr. Glenn has a very special gift.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn is clearly very spiritual, and that comes through in all of his homilies and reflections.\u00a0 His spirituality is not aloof, or inaccessible.\u00a0 His holiness is authentic, grounded, accessible and on fire.\u00a0 And, that fire is shared, such that the listener also becomes on fire, and inspired to go deeper with Scripture, with God and with our neighbor.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn has inspired me to engage at the deepest level and to work to find my spiritual path, always encouraging, mentoring, coaching.\u00a0 I would strongly encourage anyone who can to attend one of his Masses, homilies, or podcasts.\u00a0 Catch the fire of the Holy Spirit working through Fr. Glenn!!!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"John J Hern Jr.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">John J Hern Jr.<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFr. Glenn has many charisms, which he displays by his compassion, theological intelligence, spirituality, and love of God.  His compassion is continually displayed when he visits the sick of the parish. His manner of prayer and conversation is definitively a gift from God.  His spirituality is very evident when he preaches. His homilies are instructive, encouraging and centered on God\u2019s infinite love for each of us. Fr. Glenn is a teacher, a mentor, and a wonderful listener who encourages those around him to follow Jesus more closely. He is Spirit filled, Spirit led and Spirit giving!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"Deacon Scott &amp; Claudia Jamieson\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">Deacon Scott & Claudia Jamieson<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The First Sunday of Lent &#8211; Year B The First Sunday of Lent &#8211; Year B Reading I Gn 9:8-15God said to Noah and to his sons with him: &#8220;See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunday-readings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2014The First Sunday of Lent - Year B - The Gratitude Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/02\/19\/the-fist-sunday-of-lent-year-b\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2014The First Sunday of Lent - Year B - The Gratitude Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The First Sunday of Lent &#8211; 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