First Sunday of Lent (Year B)

First Reading - Genesis 9.8-15

A reading from the book of Genesis. God said to Noah, ‘Today, I make a covenant, with you, and with all your descendants, with the animals and the birds, with every living creature that came out of the ark, and with all the earth, for all generations: that never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood. I set the rainbow in the clouds, as a sign of the covenant that I make with you; and when the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember the covenant that I make with you this day.’ This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - 1 Peter 3.20-21

A reading from the first letter of Peter. In the times of disobedience, in the days of Noah, God showed great patience, so that some could be saved “through the waters”, by the building of an ark. In the same way, you are now saved through the waters of baptism, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for cleansing from sin, and for salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Mark 1.9-15

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptised by John in the river Jordan. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn open, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my beloved Son, and I delight in you.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals. And the angels waited on him. After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe the good news.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.