Note to Facilitator: If possible set up a Lenten environment in the center of your meeting place. For example, a purple cloth placed on a small table, an open Bible, a candle, a barren branch, a bowl of water to remind us that we are preparing to renew our baptismal promises at Easter.

Open with a prayer: Lord of Heaven and Earth, you created water to nourish and cleanse us. Yet water can be also deadly, as it was in the days of Noah. As we journey toward the water of the baptismal font, prepare us to die to sin and rise to fuller life in your Son. Let this time of sharing reflect our gratitude to you for your many blessings. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sharing life questions for ongoing groups: What are you most and least grateful for this week?

Note to New Seasonal Groups: The purpose of the sharing of life question is to help you to get to know each other in your joys and sorrows. Share at a level comfortable for you. This week share the name of your home state, how long you have been in the parish, favorite pastime and what motivated you to join a small group.

Facilitator reads focus statement: Cycle B of Lent has a strong emphasis on the theme of covenant and renewal of covenant between God and his people. We will especially notice the covenant theme in several of the first readings. During this Lenten season, God is calling us to renew and deepen our covenantal relationship with Him. Also during this season, we join in prayerful spirit with the "Elect" who are preparing for initiation into our church. We also prepare to renew and deepen our baptismal commitment, our covenantal relationship with Our Lord and his people. In this week's first reading, God makes a covenant with all of creation promising never to destroy it again as he did in the Great Flood. In the second reading, Peter sees the cleansing water of the Flood as a prefigurement of the cleansing waters of baptism. In the gospel, we encounter Jesus out in the desert fighting the powers of evil. The readings can also be seen in the context of how we live our lives in the midst of conflict. In the first reading, people are dealing with the conflict that follows a natural disaster. The second reading focuses on the spiritual conflict between right and wrong. The gospel has Jesus in conflict with Satan.

Now read the assigned readings, pausing briefly after each reading.

FIRST READING: Genesis 9: 8-15

These verses recount for us the covenant God entered into with Noah, his descendents and with all living creatures after the Flood. What is unique about this covenant with Noah is its universal character. This covenant, as opposed to a covenant with a particular tribe or nation, extends to every living creature. It is a covenant between God and the whole earth. In the covenant, God promises that never again would unruly waters destroy the world and its inhabitants. Like the forty days of Lent, forty days of deluge rains are required to cleanse the earth of its sin and rebellion against God. In and through the Ark, God protects a few faithful people and reproductive pairs of every kind of animal. The rainbow in the sky was intended to be a visible sign of the covenant between God and humanity. It is also a sign of his presence and it served as a reminder to the people of their responsibilities before God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 28

In these verses, the author is seeking divine guidance, remembering God's compassion, especially for sinners and for the humble.

SECOND READING: 1 Peter 3: 18-22

This reading may have been part of an instruction on baptism in the early church. The key point of the instruction reminds us of the efficacy of Christ's sufferings and death. Through his death and resurrection, all have access to God. The reference to Christ preaching to the "spirits in prison" has baffled biblical scholars for years. No one is clear who these "spirits" might be. The gist of the verse is that Christ's saving work extends to all, even to those beyond the confines of this life.

The author then goes on to contrast the waters of the Flood to the waters of baptism. (Both the New Testament writers and the early church Fathers looked to the Old Testament for hidden signs and symbols that foreshadowed and prepared the way for events and teachings in the life of Christ and his church.) Just as Noah saved others from the devastating waters of the Flood, so Christ saved us from the ultimate destruction of separation from God. Peter then insists that baptism is not just some external cleansing. Rather, it brings about an inner transformation making us like Christ. Remember the old definition of a sacrament? It is an outward sign (in baptism, this is water) signifying an inner reality (in baptism, cleansing the soul of sin and filling it with the grace or the life of Christ).

GOSPEL: Mark 1: 12-15

Each year the gospel of the first Sunday in Lent has Jesus led by the Spirit into the desert to confront the powers of darkness and to prepare Jesus for his Public Ministry. The desert was a place of testing for Jesus' ancestors. In the desert, the Israelites failed to remain faithful to God. In contrast, Jesus is faithful.

The reference to "wild beasts" is intended to communicate the savage nature of the temptations. "Angels ministering" to Jesus is a reminder of how the angel visited Elijah in his time of trial bringing him bread and water. It is possible that Mark is seeking to convey to his community that in time of trial and testing, Jesus will also be present to sustain them.

After his time in the desert, Jesus began his public ministry of preaching the Good News of God's unconditional love, the Good News of God's presence with us in times of darkness and suffering. Secondly, Jesus preached a message of repentance; a call to change, in the most radical of ways, one's vision of life; a call to make God and his values the center of one's life.

Finally, you will notice that Mark, unlike Luke and Matthew, does not outline for us the three temptations of Jesus. For Mark, Jesus' conflict with Satan only begins in the desert. The conflict will continue when Jesus meets individuals who are possessed. Satan is seen as the "strong man" whom Jesus will bind.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. In, the Great Flood, God cleansed creation polluted by sin. How do we pollute creation today? How aware are you of environment issues? Do you recycle? Do you conserve water and use reusable items?

2. In the second reading, Peter speaks of our baptism and its meaning. Would your life be different if you had never been baptized? What does being a baptized Catholic mean to you?

3. In the Gospel, Satan tempts Jesus right after he was baptized. What temptations do we (or you) face that makes it difficult for us/you to live out your baptismal commitment?

4. Spiritually Lent is a "desert time". What do you need to do as a disciple to create a desert atmosphere in your environment? Examples: less T.V., fasting.

RESPONDING TO GOD'S WORD

The purpose of the Action Response is to name one way you might act on the Word that you have just discussed. St. James reminds us that we must be "doers of the word and not just hearers". (1:21-24) It is usually not easy for participants to name ways that they can act on the readings. Hence, some suggestions are offered. Suggestions: Reflect on how Satan might be trying to pull you away from Christ and his ways. What will help you to resist his temptations and allurements? Can you name one way you can respond to or put into action a message in today's readings? This Sunday, 'the Elect' (those preparing for initiation into our church this Easter) will go to Orlando for the 'Rite of Election'. Consider writing one of them a letter of support. Their names may be in your parish bulletin.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Each gathering ends with some prayers of petition (prayers for oneself) and intercession (prayers for others). Ideally, this time of prayer would include prayers related to the readings. Some suggestions are usually offered. Since Lent is a time of final preparation for people preparing for baptism and entrance into the church, do keep the Elect in your prayers. Pray also for all who are battling with floods, literally or metaphorically.

CLOSING PRAYER

Blessed are you, God of Creation, for you have placed us in a world of wonders and then sent your Son to redeem us and teach us your wisdom. Help us to use your gifts as you intend. Draw the Elect and all of us closer to you in this holy season. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Note to all Participants: Try hard to prepare for next week's session by reading beforehand the commentary on the readings. Finally, remember if this is your first meeting, Satan will be working overtime to give you good reasons why you should not return next week.

Lessons from Noah's Ark

One: Don't miss the boat.

Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four: Stay fit. When you're six hundred years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six: Build your future on high ground.

Seven: For safety sake, travel in pairs.

Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine: When you're stressed, float a while.

Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God there's always a rainbow waiting.