Gospel Reflection on Mark 1:12-15 by Malina Baer

Sin prevents us from being the person God calls us to be and hinders our relationship with him. How can we live out God’s mission when we are weighed down by all our sins? It is especially difficult to live a life of grace and follow God’s mission in this world. We can look to Jesus as a model because he knew what it was like to be human. In the bible, it said that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Jesus took on sins that he never committed because of his unconditional love for us. Striving for holiness does not mean we are perfect; it means we are human. I find it comforting that God does not expect us to be perfect. My Religion teacher always said, “Nothing given to God is ever wasted.” God invites us to let him into our brokenness so he can transform our lives. 

Yes, sin is bad, but it reminds us that we are human and are prone to making mistakes. God’s love is unconditional, and he loves us despite our faults. He forgives our sins and always encourages us to have a close relationship with him. So, no matter how broken you feel, remember that you are loved. We have the opportunity to say yes to God’s redeeming grace today, will you?

In the Gospel, Jesus is being tempted by Satan during his forty days in the desert. Like Jesus, we will also face temptations and fall into sin. This is inevitable but we should not use this as an excuse to justify our sinfulness. In the gospel, Jesus says, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). When we fall into sin we are called to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness. This is difficult because we have to confront our shame and take responsibility for our actions. Only when we truly humble ourselves we begin to grow closer to God.