Journey to Newness of Life (Sunday 1, Lent B, Lenten Journey, Day Five)

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INTRODUCTION

"Consider yourselves fortunate, my brothers and sisters, when you meet with every kind of trial, for you know that the testing of your faith makes you steadfast” (Jas. 1:2-3). Lenten period specially reminds us that sometimes God leads us into the desert in order to recreate, purify, strengthen and renew us as we go through the fires of trials and tribulations. Whenever we tempted and tested, let us not disappoint God.


REFLECTION

Our eyes are naturally and unconsciously drawn to NEW and BEAUTIFUL things. But behind the "beauty" and "newness" of anything or any achievement, there is a patchwork of patience, hard work, trials and intermittent triumphs and failures. Lets keep this in mind as we reflect on the readings.


Genesis 9:8-15 presents us with an account of the emergence of a new world. But what happened to the old world? How did the new world come about? After the fall (the sin of Adam and Eve), the Bible narrates that the wickedness of man was so great that God deemed it necessary to purify the entire creation with the waters of the flood. Out of the entire creation, only Noah, his family and few creatures were saved. With this remnant, a new world emerged which was sealed with the covenant which God made to Noah that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood. Before the emergence of that NEW WORLD, there was a disaster called the old order (the old world) which was messed up with sin and wickedness. And out of this disaster, a NEW WORLD emerged having undergone some rebirth and purification through the flood. Remember: behind the "beauty" and "newness" of anything, something devastating, frustrating, painful and ugly might have taken place.


In 1 Peter 3:18-22, St Peter weaves this logic into his teaching on baptism. Going through the ritual of baptism is like going through the waters of the flood which ultimately gives rise to the emergence of a NEW PERSON (the baptized). In the early church, baptismal preparation was not as easy as we have it today: it was rigorous and arduous. But out of those RIGORS OF BAPTISMAL INITIATION, a NEW PERSON emerges.


In Mark 1:12-15, we are presented with a FORWARD-LOOKING and MISSION-MINDED Jesus emerging from the DESERT OF TRIALS and TEMPTATION. Often with admiration we speak about Jesus greatness: His eloquence, His wisdom which reflects in His teachings, the great miracles performed by Him, and His ultimate sacrifice for humanity on the Cross. But before Jesus began His public ministry to accomplish all of the above, it was necessary that the Spirit should lead Him into the desert to be grilled and drilled by trials and temptation.  


Lenten season is a 40-day period of growth in awareness that sometimes, God leads us into the desert of trials, tests and tribulations in order to RENEW, RECREATE, STRENGTHEN and PURIFY us. Life is all about WARFARE before FANFARE. A battle must be fought before songs of victory could be sung. The CROWN rests well on a head that has endured the thorns of the CROSS. A truth that we may not easily accept is that “some tribulations are part of God's plan”. Going through the fires of trials, tests and challenges is a NECESSITY, not a CHOICE, if we must be renewed, recreated and purified. When the inevitable happens, let us not throw in the towel!


Prayer:

Armed with God's unfailing strength, may we wade through the miry, slimy and dark tunnel of earthly troubles and victoriously reach the end where there will be light and beauty shining without end, Amen!





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