People who have had to make significant changes in their lives — break a habit, an addiction, or adopt new ways of living — know that such big transformations don’t happen easily. They require interior fortitude and determination, courage, persistence and more — an interior change of heart and mind.
Today Jesus asks for such significant changes from those who have heard him preach. After he was baptized by John, he spent time in the desert and underwent temptations. He was tested and accompanied by the Spirit came out strong and determined. Jesus announces the coming of the reign of God and he invites others who hear him to commit their lives fully to God and God’s ways. He preaches “Metanoia” — “Repentance” — which requires change of mind and heart. He doesn’t want some superficial or cosmetic change. He isn’t asking for a few minutes, hours, weeks, or months of our time which, when completed, we can return to our previous ways of living.
Perhaps we have given up wine or desserts for Lent. Then we hope to hang on till Easter when we can pop the cork and slice the Easter cake. No, repentance isn’t just for a part of the year. It is a full-time, on-going commitment to change. Metanoia asks us to turn away from whatever distracts us from God and to turn to the embrace of the One who is infinite love.
Such total change can easily be postponed till a later more “convenient time.” We say we will start a more serious pursuit of God later on — after we finish school, when we have a family, after retirement, “When I’ll have more time to give to prayer and good works.” But Jesus is speaking in the present, not future tense. “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” Now is a “kairos moment.” Now is a graced time when we will receive the help we need to respond, to make a turn in our lives towards God. That doesn’t mean big changes are easy or accomplished in a short period of time. Metanoia means we will have to dedicate our lives to transformation. In truth it will never be a completed process, but if we listen to Jesus today we need to start, or start again, becoming followers of Christ.
There are powerful forces in the world that would discourage and prevent us from responding wholeheartedly to Christ and his ways. Call these forces satanic, or the allure of stuff, power, fame, indifference, domination, sensual satisfaction, etc. Hard forces to resist. But we are not alone as we once again undertake a Lenten journey. Through our baptism God’s Spirit is with us and enables us to live according to God’s ways — to accept the kingdom Jesus proclaims.
As we once again hear Jesus’ call to repentance we realize it isn’t a call just about us and our individual lives. We ask ourselves what in our homes, at work, local, and parish communities needs to be changed. In those places we are called to repent the ways we treat others, consume and waste, set ourselves apart and above others and remain indifferent to the well-being of our sisters and brothers?
Do we think Jesus was above being tempted; that he was exempted from the trials and struggles common to us humans? Some hold that Jesus was not really tempted, but was setting an example for us. The homiletician and Bible scholar, Fred Craddock, says, “Just to set an example is not setting an example.” He goes on to say: “Such approaches, however sincere, rob Jesus, the Scriptures, the gospel and life itself of reality.” (“Preaching through the Christian Year: Year B,” Valley Forge, PA, 1993, page 141).
Mark has already indicated how we can make the changes we must. He begins Jesus’ ministry with the stamp of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit that accompanied Jesus through his 40-day trial is also given to us at our baptism.
The Noah story reveals God’s graciousness towards Noah, his family and all creatures by making a covenant with them. The rainbow is a sign that God will remember this covenant and Peter offers Christ as a proof of God’s permanent graciousness towards us. Jesus is the covenant-in-the-flesh and he invites us to turn to our loving God, change our lives and believe the good news. The message of God’s grace ties our readings together today — all the readings are linked by grace — but then again, aren’t they always?
Mark’s gospel is scant on details and he rushes to tell and describe the good news Jesus has brought to us. Still, in his rush, Mark tells us that Jesus paused before beginning his ministry for 40 days of solitude and prayer in the desert. He wasn’t completely alone, the tempter was there, but unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark doesn’t give details about the nature of the temptations.
We do get the point from Mark that Jesus needed time in solitude and prayer in order to deal with the difficult options he had to make to confront the forces of evil that besiege humanity. We may not have time for even a day’s desert retreat, but still, we also need to figure out how to spend time alone listening to God.
What we might discover in such prayer is what Peter emphasizes: that our baptism is not an empty or superficial ritual but, “an appeal to God for a clear conscience.” Baptism opens our minds and hearts to God and begins in us a whole new consciousness of the God life offered to us in Christ. Through our baptism we participate in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord. By itself suffering has no meaning or value, but with Christ, our suffering, especially when it is the result of our commitment to the gospel, transforms suffering into joy because, as Peter reminds us, baptism “saves us now.”
In Jesus the “right time” has arrived. Jesus invites people to accept the rule of God. The Old Testament expressed God’s rule over Israel as its “King” and over the whole world. Yet, this rule was not yet realized and the prophets voiced Israel’s longing for it in images of expectation and hope.
Formerly, John the Baptist preached, “One more powerful than I is to come…” (1:7), and today we hear Jesus speak of the kingdom coming near — its arrival is imminent. In Jesus God’s rule is present — and yet we Christians pray, “Thy kingdom come,” for its future completion. John preached judgment and people responded by confessing their sins and being baptized. Jesus preached the gospel, good news and an appropriate response for us this Lent would be joy over God’s graciousness towards us.