February 18: Clear Conscience

Usually, the first reading has something in common with the gospel. Today’s however, has more in common with the second reading from St. Peter. They both talk about Noah and the ark, where the few good people were saved by going through the water. Peter compares that to the waters of Baptism, in which we are saved by God. He also has an interesting image of Jesus “preaching to the spirits in prison.” It refers to the fallen angels whose disobedience lead the rest of the population to turn away from God. Just as God washed away the evil of the world in the waters of the flood, so the waters of Baptism made us into a new people who have clear consciences, both because God has forgiven our sins and because we promise to follow only Him.

That leads to the Gospel, where Jesus is tempted by Satan. But unlike the people of Noah’s time, Jesus does not fall to the temptations. Instead, he comes out of the desert, proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is near. He tells us to repent and believe in the good news.

That means we have a choice to make: Do we accept this kingdom and repent, or do we ignore our baptism and do what we want? We may say that we are willing to repent, but do we do anything about it? Do we still have a clear conscience when we think of how much time we spend getting to know Jesus? Ever pray or read the bible outside of church? Do we spend near as much on the poor, as we do for movies, hobbies, video games, or drinks? Do we ever tell anyone about the kingdom and what Jesus has done for us?

Next time you see a rainbow, think about the covenant that God made with Noah. Just as God’s promises get better and better till the coming of Jesus, we are challenged to be more and more like Him. Are you satisfied with just a promise that God won’t destroy us all in a flood? Or are you ready to live the New Covenant that Jesus promises to those who will follow him?

Tom Schmidt