Preparing for the Mass of
Sunday 26th February 2012 -
The First Sunday of Lent

Relax & Remember:
Set aside 10 -15 minutes and create a suitable environment by removing any distractions. Make sure that you are comfortable. Perhaps light a candle. Make the sign of the cross † and remain still for a minute of settling silence. Call to mind the love that God has for you. Remember that through this scripture our Lord is truly present. Then read the Gospel, preferably aloud and slowly, and pay attention to any words that stand out. If any do, meditate on them for a few minutes and be invited into a dialogue with God.

Read:
Taken from the Gospel for Sunday 26th February 2012 (Mark 1:12-15): Jesus is Tested in the Desert
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him. After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. “The time has come,” he said, “and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.”

Reflect:
After spending a few minutes considering this Gospel, continue by reading Fr Henry Wansbrough’s reflection. Mark’s emphasis is distinctly different from that of Matthew and Luke. No details of the testing are given. Rather Jesus’ sojourn in the desert seems almost a return to the peace of the Garden of Eden. The desert of Judea, between Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, is a noble and dignified solitude of smooth, sandstone hills. Nothing grows, of course, but wild camels and the occasional leopard prowl around. There Jesus was ‘with the wild animals’ as, led by the Spirit, he made his preparation for his mission. In what way was he tested? We may presume that in solitude and prayer he was working out the implications of the Voice from Heaven at his Baptism. How was he to run his course as the beloved Servant of the Lord? Precisely how was he to bring the presence of the Kingship of God into people’s lives? The ‘forty’ is often used in biblical accounts for a period of preparation, as Israel’s forty years in the desert, or the forty days between Easter and Ascension which prepared the Apostles for Jesus’ leaving them and then for the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. We may use our forty days of Lent to reflect on how we may bring God’s presence to bear in and through our lives.

How will you make best use of this time of preparation in Lent?

Respond & Request:
Now slowly and prayerfully read the Gospel once again but this time in silence. Consider how this Gospel could apply to your life in general. Then thank God for any insight you may have received. Conclude by asking God to bless you with one of the following spiritual gifts to help you act on any resolution you have made: love, understanding, wisdom, faithfulness, peace, self control, patience, or joy. Please remember to pray for the Church and particularly our school families. Then conclude by requesting the prayers of Our Lady & St Joseph.