The beautiful and holy liturgical season of Lent bids us to return to the innocence of baptism.
Holy Mother the Church, through this season's exciting scripture readings, especially Peter's letter, reminds us that as Noah and his family were saved through the waters of the deluge, we were saved through the waters of baptism.
God's covenant with Noah, as we rediscover in the Book of Genesis and in the prophesies of Hosea and Isaiah, marked the start of a new world. But it also prefigured a new and greater covenant between God and His creation (Hosea 2:20; Isaiah 11:1-9).
That new covenant and that new creation begin when the Gospel's portray Jesus as the new Adam - the beloved son of God (Mark 1:11; Luke 3:38), living in harmony with the wild beasts (Genesis 2:19-20), being served by angels (Ezekiel 28:12-14). Like Adam, He too is tempted by the devil. But while Adam fell, giving reign to sin and death (Romans 5:12-14, 17-20), Jesus, the second Adam, is victorious and eventually conquers for us the tomb, death and sin. Lent prepares us for this mystery.
This is the good news, the "Gospel of God... the gospel of the new covenant... the gospel of salvation... the gospel to every creature" that Jesus came to proclaim and for which he sacrificed himself. Through His death, resurrection, and enthronement at the right hand of the Father, the world is once again made God's kingdom.
In the waters of baptism, each of us entered the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13-14). We were made children of God, new creations (2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 4:3-7).
But like Jesus, and Israel, the "chosen people" of the first covenant, before Him, we have passed through the baptismal waters only to be driven into the wilderness - a world filled with dangers, temptations, afflictions and tests of our faithfulness. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4, 9,13; Deuteronomy 8:2,16).
To date, what has been our choice? Time is running out... this is the right time for fundamental decisions... tomorrow might be too late.
Jesus is our leader on this journey. He knows its pathways. He is the Saviour, the way, the truth and the life. He feeds us with the bread and blood of the Eucharist, and cleanses our consciences in the sacrament of reconciliation.
Lent is the proper time to make fundamental decisions. Let us believe in the Gospel of Salvation, let us accept it: "To whom shall we go, Master, you have the words of eternal life."