First Sunday of Lent
February 21, 2021 — Year B
Readings: Gn 9:8-15 / Ps 25 / 1 Pt 3:18-22 / Mk 1:12-15
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

During these difficult times, we all hunger for the Good News. The story of Noah, which we heard in the First Reading is, indeed, great news for all of us, God’s children. The Lord God told Noah that he and his descendants could move forward, free from fear. He promised that bodily creatures will never again be destroyed by a flood.

In the first letter of St. Peter, which we heard in the Second Reading, the apostle reminds us that Noah’s Ark prefigured our Baptism. This sacrament will save us from eternal death, just as Noah and his family were saved by the ark. But as we all know, being baptized and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is not a guarantee for salvation. At one point, Jesus said, “Not all of those who call me Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do what my Father in Heaven wants them to do.”

The season of Lent is a time to take a closer look at how we live our lives as Christians. We once again ask ourselves basic questions like, “As followers of Christ, are we moving forward? Or backward?” This question will make us choose between light and darkness; between joy and sadness; between life and death.

Sometime in the past you have probably seen one of the car insurance commercials where the man, who is wearing a yellow shirt, says, “You only pay for what you need.” He is always accompanied by a big bird – LiMu Emu. This bird, the emu, who is a native of Australia, has a very interesting characteristic. Do you know that emus cannot walk backward? For one reason or another, they can only walk forward.

During this season of Lent, let us continue to ask the Heavenly Father to give us enough grace and strength so that, as we continue our journey following our Lord Jesus, like the Australian big bird, emu, we will always move forward.