Be Alive In The Spirit

Penance is the art of giving up the deeds (desires) of the flesh.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 1st Sunday of Lent B, February 18th, 2024
Texts: Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15 

Today is first Sunday of Lent. Lent is a period of putting the flesh to death and be alive in the spirit. How do we put the flesh to death? We put the flesh to death by its deeds. So also we put the spirit to death by its deeds. When we give up the deeds of the flesh, the flesh dies in us. How are we alive in the spirit? It is also by its deeds. So also we are alive in the flesh by its deeds. When we practice the deeds of the spirit, we are alive in the spirit.  

Both spirit and flesh cannot be alive in us at the same time. St. Paul affirms this thus: “For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want” (Gal. 5:17). As we die in the flesh we are alive in the spirit. We are alive in the flesh as we are dead in the spirit.  

St. Peter tells us, today, that Jesus saves us from sinful life by being dead in the flesh and alive in the spirit. In his words: “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit”.  

He went and preached to the spirits in prison

Jesus also saved the spirits in prison by being alive in the spirit. Hence, St. Peter says, “in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark”. Being alive in the spirit we can save ourselves and others. Being alive in the spirit, Jesus saved those the Ark of Noah could not save. 

Just as Jesus took flesh to save who are of flesh, He was alive in the spirit to save the spirits. In this way we are to be alive in spirit to be with God and worship Him. Hence, Jesus says, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). 

During Lent we put the flesh to death by observances of penance. Penance is the art of giving up the deeds (desires) of the flesh or acquiring mastery over them. Our Lord Jesus Christ put the flesh to death by His fasting forty days and forty nights. His temptation is a battle against the flesh. 

Now the works of the flesh are obvious

What are the deeds of the flesh? St. Paul says, “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these” (Gal. 5:19-21) Those are the deeds we are to give up for fruitful Lent. 

We are to practice the deeds of the spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). Those are the deeds we should practise to be alive in the spirit.  

It is worth knowing that we are all dead in the flesh by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are alive in spirit by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We enjoyed this grace at our baptism.  

The righteousness we enjoy at baptism is free, owing it to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; it is not by our deeds. St. Peter says, “Baptism ... now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of  Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God”. We sustain the righteousness by crucifying the flesh and practicing the deeds of the spirit.

Prayer 

Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke