First Sunday of Lent

“Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit.”

~ 1 Peter 3:18

Noah’s ark, which sheltered God’s creation during the flood, serves as a prefiguration of salvation through water, connecting to our Baptism. St. Paul notes that those in the ark were "saved through water" (1 Pt 3:20). Similarly, our Baptism within the Church, a shelter for His creation, shields us from the floods of chaos and sin. The flood ends up acting as God's means to form a new creation through His covenant with us, just as we become a new creation through Baptism.

As we enter Lent, a time of preparation and renewal, we recognize our Baptism as a living, ongoing event. We are called to “put to death” our former life and seek daily rejuvenation and new life. We do this by embracing the words and promises of the Gospel, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” God is near to His people.

Immediately after the Spirit descended upon Jesus during His Baptism, “the Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert” (Mk 1:12), where he faced temptation from Satan. Despite spending forty days in the desert and hearing about his cousin’s arrest, Jesus stayed near to the Father and still proclaimed the Gospel. Indeed, we have been saved by the waters of Baptism, but we will face seasons of dryness and trials. The graces we receive at Baptism give us the strength to draw close to the Father, who is a promise-keeper who triumphs over floods.

How am I making my Baptism an ongoing reality in my daily life?

What or who do I cling on to when I face seasons of dryness and trials? Am I still willing to proclaim the promises of the Gospel during these seasons?