First Sunday of Lent - B (February 18, 2018)

“The Kingdom of God is at hand”

Mark 1: 12-15

While in the desert, Jesus confronted the power of Satan and of wild beasts. 

Then, “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’.”

In this short and to-the-point style, Mark introduces the new age proclaimed by Jesus.

Here, Mark also presents a stark contrast of two authorities.   One authority relied on control and power that unjustly arrested John who was sent by God.  The other is the authority of God’s kingdom.  [1]

Lent gives us the time for self-examination – am I building and relying on anything that is not of God’s kingdom?  Then, Lent affords us the time to reorient ourselves to the way of God’s kingdom.  

Image source: www.agnusday.org

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[1] John Petty, www.progressiveinvolvement.com