February
26th - First Sunday of Lent 2012
First
Scripture Reading : Genesis 9:8-15
Today's reading from the book of Genesis takes place
after the story of Noah and the great flood. Israelite people of long ago saw the rainbow as a symbol of a Warrior-God hanging
up his hunting bow as a peaceful gesture. The rainbow symbolizes the solemn promise that God makes to Noah.
Second Reading:
1 Peter 3:18-22
This reading reminds s that just
as Noah was saved through the ark, we are saved through baptism. Early Christians believed that those who died before the
coming of Jesus awaited redemption in a shadowy existence described here as a prison. When we say in the Apostle's Creed
that Jesus "descended into hell", we are saying that Jesus went to announce to those waiting in the "prison"
that they had been saved.
