Sunday Gospel Reflection by Bishop Parkes: On this first Sunday of Lent, our Gospel reading comes from St. Mark. We hear how Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, where he was tempted by Satan, in preparation for his public ministry. He begins his public ministry by announcing a time of fulfillment and calling the people to “repent and believe in the gospel of God.” Repent and believe.
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Asking for forgiveness
“The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:15
On this first Sunday of Lent, our Gospel reading comes from St. Mark. We hear how Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, where he was tempted by Satan, in preparation for his public ministry. He begins his public ministry by announcing a time of fulfillment and calling the people to “repent and believe in the gospel of God.” Repent and believe. Those words are a major part of our Lenten journey and were likely spoken to you if you as you received ashes this past Wednesday.
The season of Lent is the perfect time to examine our spiritual journey and our relationship with God and others. It’s a journey which encompasses our everyday lives, not just an hour on Sunday. We are called to love God, to love others and to repent. It sounds simple, but we know it can be difficult. Our patience is often tested, and we can become angry, jealous of others, and self-centered by putting other things before our love of God. The two phrases in repentance when you think about it are, “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.” Both are difficult to say, yet can bring great healing and peace to both parties involved.
In my time as a pastor, and occasionally as Bishop, I would often hear parents talk about the challenges they have with their children. Sometimes, they would be brought to tears as they struggle with that relationship. In all cases, the parents were willing to forgive out of love for their child, regardless of their child may have done. God has this same unconditional love for us.
Imagine God weeping for us as we stumble through life messing things up. God is our Father in Heaven. He weeps for us in our sin just like a parent does for their child because He wants the best for us. Jesus wept for us and begged the Father to forgive His transgressors while on the cross. “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” This Lent, let us wipe away those tears by asking for forgiveness and by healing broken relationships with family members, friends and mostly, with God.
Pedir perdón
“Se ha cumplido el tiempo y el Reino de Dios ya está cerca. Arrepiéntanse y crean en el Evangelio”. – Marcos 1,15
En este primer domingo de Cuaresma, nuestra lectura del Evangelio proviene de san Marcos. Escuchamos cómo Jesús pasó 40 días en el desierto, donde fue tentado por Satanás en preparación para su ministerio público. Comienza su ministerio público anunciando un tiempo de cumplimiento y predicando a la gente "conviértanse y crean en el Evangelio”. Conviértete y cree. Esas palabras son una parte importante de nuestra peregrinación cuaresmal y es probable que te las hayan dicho a ti cuando recibiste las cenizas el pasado miércoles.
El tiempo de Cuaresma es el momento perfecto para examinar nuestro camino espiritual, y nuestra relación con Dios y con los demás. Es una peregrinación que abarca toda nuestra vida cotidiana y no sólo una hora de cada domingo. Estamos llamados a amar a Dios, a amar a los demás y a convertirnos. Parece sencillo, pero sabemos que puede ser difícil. Nuestra paciencia a menudo se pone a prueba y podemos enfadarnos, sentir celos de los demás y centrarnos en nosotros mismos, anteponiendo otras cosas a nuestro amor a Dios. Las dos frases que más comúnmente usamos al arrepentirnos de algo son: "Lo siento" y "discúlpame". O “te perdono”, si otra persona se arrepiente de algo que nos hizo y viene a disculparse. Son palabras difíciles de decir, pero pueden traer gran sanación y paz a ambas partes involucradas.
En mis tiempos de párroco, y ocasionalmente de obispo, he escuchado a menudo a los papás y las mamás expresar los desafíos que les presentan sus hijos e hijas. A veces se les saltan las lágrimas durante sus luchas con ellos. En todos los casos los padres están dispuestos a perdonar por amor a sus hijos, independientemente de lo que ellos hayan hecho. Dios tiene este mismo amor incondicional por nosotros.
Imagínate a Dios llorando por nosotros cada vez que tropezamos y erramos en nuestro caminar por la vida. Dios es nuestro Padre celestial. Dios llora por nosotros cuando pecamos, igual que lo hace un padre o una madre por su hijo o hija, porque quiere lo mejor para nosotros. Jesús lloró por nosotros y rogó al padre desde la cruz para que perdonara a sus enemigos: "Padre, perdónalos, porque no saben lo que hacen". En esta Cuaresma, enjuguemos esas lágrimas pidiendo perdón y reparando las relaciones rotas con miembros de nuestra familia, amistades y sobre todo con Dios.
Reflection by:
Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes is the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. Prior to his appointment to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Parkes served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 2012-2016. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999. Before answering the call to the priesthood, Bishop Parkes worked for several years in Tampa’s banking industry.
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