Today' readings speak of the (vicious) cycle of our relationship with God, governed by a covenant He chose to commit to with us and renews daily - "seventy times seven times".
God: Forgives and grants us freedom from sin.
Jesus: Paved the way for us and leads us through example.
Us: Repent and reconcile (active conversion) with Him.
The Gospel points out the essentiality of temptations. In fact, it was the Spirit who brought Jesus to the desert, precisely to be tempted. From the experience, Jesus grew stronger and became more alive in the Spirit. Sure, we are not Jesus and we will likely not get it right the first time. But God knows that and He's ready to forgive us as many times as it requires us to get it right --- all we have to do is get up, dust ourselves off and try again (70 x 7 = infinity).
1st Reading Intro:
"A covenant can be understood as a commitment with consequences attached to it ... However, God does not impose punishment on His people - He forgives them and lets them start afresh".
From 1st Reading - Genesis 9:8-15:
"See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you ..."
From 2nd Reading - 1 Peter 3:18-22:
"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 ... It is not removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ ..."
Gospel - Mark 1:12-15:
"The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and He remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan ...
This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel."
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