Rainbow after the Rain

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022215.cfm) reminds me that there will always be a rainbow after the rain.

The rainbow is one of the most beautiful things you can see. Aside from its natural beauty, it is refreshing to see after a rain or a storm. After a dark and stormy weather, it is refreshing to see a beautiful and bright rainbow to signify the end of the storm. The first reading shows the biblical foundation of a rainbow, its essence to us and God. It is a sign of God’s love and promise to us men.

There will always be a rainbow after a rain.

In the readings, we see this further explained. The second reading reminds us that Christ first suffered and died for us, but eventually he rose up and saved us. And the gospel we see that Jesus had to “suffer” and be strengthened first in the dessert for forty days before emerging a stronger and spiritually ready Jesus to do God’s work.

No challenge or problem is forever. God’s light will always outshine the darkness.

No matter what we go through in life, no matter how difficult the situation may be, no matter how dark the situation around us is, we are reminded of God’s rainbow waiting for us. His love is greater than any problem, his light is brighter than any darkness, and we should just learn to trust in him and focus on him as we go through life.

May we be one with the psalmist and say that God’s ways are love and truth to us, who keep his commandments, especially during tough times.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to rest. Thank you for the beautiful reminder. Lord I am sorry for the times I let darkness and problems consume me. Sorry for dwelling on them. Lord, help me focus on you. I know that your love and power is greater than any problem or dark situation I may be in. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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February 22, 2015

First Sunday of Lent

Lectionary: 23

Reading 1 Gn 9:8-15

God said to Noah and to his sons with him:

“See, I am now establishing my covenant with you

and your descendants after you

and with every living creature that was with you:

all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals

that were with you and came out of the ark.

I will establish my covenant with you,

that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed

by the waters of a flood;

there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.”

God added:

“This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,

of the covenant between me and you

and every living creature with you:

I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign

of the covenant between me and the earth.

When I bring clouds over the earth,

and the bow appears in the clouds,

I will recall the covenant I have made

between me and you and all living beings,

so that the waters shall never again become a flood

to destroy all mortal beings.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9.

R. (cf. 10) Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;

teach me your paths,

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my savior.

R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,

and your love are from of old.

In your kindness remember me,

because of your goodness, O LORD.

R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

Good and upright is the LORD,

thus he shows sinners the way.

He guides the humble to justice,

and he teaches the humble his way.

R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

Reading 2 1 Pt 3:18-22

Beloved:

Christ suffered for sins once,

the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,

that he might lead you to God.

Put to death in the flesh,

he was brought to life in the Spirit.

In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,

who had once been disobedient

while God patiently waited in the days of Noah

during the building of the ark,

in which a few persons, eight in all,

were saved through water.

This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.

It is not a removal of dirt from the body

but an appeal to God for a clear conscience,

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who has gone into heaven

and is at the right hand of God,

with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:4b

One does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel Mk 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,

and he remained in the desert for forty days,

tempted by Satan.

He was among wild beasts,

and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested,

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:

“This is the time of fulfillment.

The kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the gospel.