First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 9:8-15 (JB)

A reading from the book of Genesis

I will recall the covenant between myself and you … the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

God spoke to Noah and his sons, ‘See, I establish my Covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; also with every living creature to be found with you, birds, cattle and every wild beast with you: everything that came out of the ark, everything that lives on the earth. I establish my Covenant with you: nothing of flesh shall be swept away again by the waters of the flood. There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again.’

God said, ‘Here is the sign of the Covenant I make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all generations: I set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth. When I gather the clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the Covenant between myself and you and every living creature of every kind. And so the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all things of flesh.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Genesis 9:8-15 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Genesis

God said to Noah and to his sons with him,

“As for me,

I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you,

and with every living creature that is with you,

the birds, the domestic animals,

and every animal of the earth with you,

as many as came out of the ark.

I establish my covenant with you,

that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood,

and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

God said,

“This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you

and every living creature that is with you,

for all future generations:

I have set my bow in the clouds,

and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,

I will remember my covenant

that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh;

and the waters shall never again become a flood

to destroy all flesh.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 24:4-9 (JB)

R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth

to those who keep your covenant.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

for you are God my saviour. R.

Remember your mercy, Lord,

and the love you have shown from of old.

In your love remember me,

because of your goodness, O Lord. R.

The Lord is good and upright.

He shows the path to those who stray,

he guides the humble in the right path;

he teaches his way to the poor. R.

1 Peter 3:18-22 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Peter

The water of the flood is a type of the baptism which saves you now.

Christ himself, innocent though he was, died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life, and, in the spirit, he went to preach to the spirits in prison. Now it was long ago, when Noah was still building that ark which saved only a small group of eight people ‘by water’, and when God was still waiting patiently, that these spirits refused to believe. That water is a type of the baptism which saves you now, and which is not the washing off of physical dirt but a pledge made to God from a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has entered heaven and is at God’s right hand, now that he has made the angels and Dominations and Powers his subjects.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Peter 3:18-22 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Peter

Christ suffered for sins once for all,

the righteous for the unrighteous,

in order to bring you to God.

He was put to death in the flesh,

but made alive in the spirit,

in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison.

In former times these did not obey,

when God waited patiently in the days of Noah,

during the building of the ark,

in which a few, that is, eight persons,

were saved through water.

Baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-

not as a removal of dirt from the body,

but as an appeal to God for a good 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 made subject to him.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Matthew 4:4 (JB)

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

No one lives on bread alone,

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

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Matthew 4:4 (NRSV)

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

No one lives on bread alone,

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

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Mark 1:12-15 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

He was tempted by Satan, and the angels looked after him.

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.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 1:12-15 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

After Jesus was baptized,

the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

He was in the wilderness forty days,

tempted by Satan;

and he was with the wild beasts;

and the angels waited on him.

Now after John was arrested;

Jesus came to Galilee,

proclaiming the good news of God, and saying,

“The time is fulfilled,

and the kingdom of God has come near;

repent,

and believe in the good news.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.