Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Karen Dietz
Opening Prayer
Loving God, through the yearly observances of Lent, may we grow in the understanding of the riches hidden in Christ. Amen.
Reading
Genesis 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: the birds, the tame animals, and all the wild animals that were with you—all that came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth. God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come: 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 remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature—every mortal being—so that the waters will never again become a flood to destroy every mortal being.
Reflection
This reading speaks of the power of the covenant, the promise, made by God to all creatures. God promises to NEVER again destroy the world by a flood. This covenant is played out over and over again throughout the Hebrew Scriptures right up until the time of Jesus. And with Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection the ultimate covenant is established for all time.
I draw comfort and hope in this promise from God. Although we live in a world plagued with sin and darkness and we are personally sinful creatures, we have the pledge of God’s abundant love and mercy! God is always there to welcome us back into the loving embrace and all the graces to be uncovered.
As I begin the Lenten journey once again, I desire to make myself vulnerable before God, aware of my weaknesses and my sinfulness. I long for healing and wholeness. We are given this season each year because of our humanity – yes – but also because of Jesus’ divinity. We begin anchored in God’s everlasting promise. What better place to start?!
Closing Prayer
May God in God’s promise and all-embracing love be a source of encouragement and healing as we begin this sacred Lenten journey. Amen.