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March 5, 2006 First Sunday in Lent Mark 1:9-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe the good news.” ~Mark is absolutely clear on this point: It’s about good news… ~Mark is clear that this good news of God is what Jesus came proclaiming. ~Jesus is clear in his instruction that the people are to put their faith in this same good news, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe (that is place your faith in) the good news.” This past Wednesday was a very special day in the Church Year called Ash Wednesday, making this the first day of the Lenten Season. Now, Lent is a very important and meaningful season for us because it is a time when we concentrate on removing those things from our lives (the things that we can remove) that keep us from walking with God. It is a time of introspection—a time of looking inward, so that we might make the necessary changes, so that we might see God more clearly. Lent is a yearly, spiritual journey, that begins with our own death and mortality on Ash Wednesday and culminates with the life of God as our own inheritance on Easter—when we remember the revelation of God’s power over life and death—the power to give life beyond this life—the power of the resurrection. Now, as we set out on our way—on this spiritual pilgrimage called Lent—on this first Sunday of Lent, I would like you to notice the readings set aside for this Sunday in our lectionary—notice the tone. These readings are the same readings being read, prayed over, reflected upon, and listened to in Churches of various denominations all over this nation and around the world. Notice the tone as we set out towards Easter. First, we had the familiar story from Genesis, the very beginning of our Bibles—the story of God’s covenant, not only with Noah and his family, but also with the whole creation preserved from the chaos of the flood. In this story from the 9th chapter of Genesis, the Lord promises never to destroy us as he did in the flood. So, basically, we begin Lent (the very first reading) is the promise—God’s promise to all of us—the promise of life. Now, our second reading, is from 1 Peter, and it we find meaning for our own baptism into Christ. Why are we baptized? So that we will be saved through this water, as Noah was saved from the watery Chaos. We are not saved by the water, but through the water. Noah had an ark to ride in, what do we have? According to 1Peter, “Christ also suffered for sins once for all, in order to bring us to God.” So, who is our ark? Who brings us safely and assuredly to God? Jesus Christ is our ark. And finally, here we are at the Gospel. ~Mark is clear that this good news of God is what Jesus came proclaiming. ~Jesus is clear in his instruction that the people are to put their faith in this same good news, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe (that is place your faith in) the good news.” Everything here today is about good news. Unfortunately, Lent is sometimes considered a time for focusing upon our own selves and our own sin…our own failings, and our own guilt. When I bring up your personal relationship with God, what is the first thing that comes to your mind and to your heart? What’s the first thing that pops up? It seems to me that we can easily get so stuck on our own failings, that we think that this becomes our primary focus or concern. But Christ tells us today, that we are not to dwell upon ourselves, we are to repent and move on, so that we can focus upon this good news. The basis of our relationship with God is not in its brokenness, but in its promise! Jesus Christ came in order that we might be a people who dwell upon good news. We are to be people busily believing in the good news of God (which includes his promise, that he has the power to bring us to himself). Brothers and sisters, just like in all of our relationships, we can easily loose the forest for the trees. It is easy to focus on this morning’s argument, or someone’s shortcomings, and forget the foundation that is at the root of all our earthly relationships. And that foundation is God’s love for us: this is what is revealed in the Noah story and in 1Peter, and in the entire story of Jesus Christ as we journey through Lent. God loves us completely. And as Christians, the basis for our relationship with one another is that same love revealed to us in Christ Jesus. It is clear, brothers and sisters; Jesus Christ came proclaiming good news. And now listen to his voice for your life: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent (that is turn away from your guilt), and believe…believe…base your whole life on the good news of God.”
Godspeed everyone. Joshua W. Magyar, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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