From The Bishop

The Readings for the First Sunday of Lent focus on the theme of covenant. In the scriptural sense, a covenant is not simply a contract or a mutual agreement. It is a gift from God that establishes a loving relationship rather than simply creating a reciprocal agreement. In the First Reading God makes a covenant with Noah and his descendants. The bow in the sky became the sign of this covenant. I have heard it said that Noah should be named the patron saint of wise investors because he was ‘floating his assets while the rest of the world was in liquidation’. In the Second Reading we are told that just as the ark saved Noah and his family from the flood, the followers of Christ are saved by the waters of baptism. Baptism becomes a sign of the new covenant we have in Christ. The Gospel teaches us that the way we keep that new covenant is to “Repent and believe in the good news”. Lent offers us the opportunity to do just that. How faithful have we been to the covenant God made with us on the day of our baptism? Your paths, Lord, are love and faithfulness for those who keep your covenant (Responsorial Psalm).