Baptism and the Christian Combat

Our lenten journey commenced on Ash Wednesday where the readings reminded us of the spirit of our ascetic practices. The first Sunday of Lent focuses on two ideas: our baptism and the Christian struggle against the reign of Satan. The first reading, a selection from the story of Noah and the Flood (Genesis 9:8-15) is paired with the selection from the second reading, 1 Peter 3:18-22. The Gospel reading is taken from Mark 1:12-15, Jesus in the Desert (Mark 1:12-13) and The Proclamation of the Kingdom (Mark 1:14-15)

Relevant Articles

• Links to the Gospel
  • Jesus Tempted in the Desert (Mark 1:12-13)
  • Jesus’ Proclamation of the Kingdom (Mark 1:14-15.16-20)
• Sunday Thoughts: Tempted by Satan

Reading Guide

Note the following about the selection from Mark

1. Mark 1:12-15 easily divides into the following parts: vv. 12-13 and 14-15. There is a narrative break in v. 14 with the introduction “After John the Baptist was brought into prison…”

2. There is no narrative break between v. 11 and v. 12; the action of the Spirit pushing Jesus to the desert is connected to the previous declaration of the Voice about Jesus’ identity with the connective “kai”, “and”. What conclusion can you draw about this fact?

3. Jesus is described as “with wild animals”, an allussion to Psalm 22:12-13. This psalm begins with the words quoted at the crucifixion “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark then connects the temptation in the desert with the crucifixion. In v. 11, the Voice from heaven identified Jesus as the Servant of Yahweh. What conclusion(s) can you draw from these?

4. The angels “serve” Jesus. The verb for “serve” here is the same verb used for the service of Simon’s mother-in-law after she was healed by Jesus (see Mark 1:29-39). The heavenly service is accorded to him because he is “the Son, the Beloved”. There is therefore some connection with Psalm 91, especially to vv. 11-12 (see also the wild animals mentioned in vv. 13ff for some help on the wild animals mentioned in Mark 1:13)

5. Jesus begins his mission after John the Baptist is thrown into prison. Mark connects Jesus’ work with the fate of John who will be put to death. What John underwent, Jesus will also undergo.

6. Jesus preached the gospel of God. Can you identify the contents of this gospel?

7. Based on your “Sentence Flow” how are the following words or terms connected?

• The time is fulfilled
• Repent
• The Kingdom of God
• At hand/is near/approaches
• Believe
• Gospel

Comparing the Readings

The liturgy of the first Sunday of Lent calls our attention to our baptism (1 Peter) and to the struggle with Satan that is a direct result of that baptism. Here, the first reading, the conclusion of the story of Noah and the Great Flood, is linked to the second reading. The hope of the world is on those who emerge saved from the waters. Peter tells his readers that the salvation made possible through the ark of wood is an anti-type of Christian baptism. Christians emerge from the waters in newness of life, thanks to Christ dead and risen.

The gospel reading on the other hand shows us Christ, having been baptized at the Jordan, being tempted in the desert. The picture of Satan, the angels and wild beasts as his companions show the desolation of the experience. There was no comfort from human companionship, just as there would be none when he will be raised on the Cross. Mark 1:12-13 is an initial image of Jesus as the Servant of Yahweh. This too will be the lot of those who will answer the proclamation to repent and believe in the gospel that Jesus brings (Mark 1:14-15).

Suggestions for the Lesson

The theme of baptism and the idea of servant-sonship is highlighted in the readings. Several topics explained with the Easter renewal of baptismal vows come to mind:

1. The three-fold baptismal vow of rejecting Satan, his lies and works characterizes the Christian life as a life-long struggle against the reign of Satan. Christian ascetic practices (fasting and prayer) are directly related to this. It would be a good occassion to explain here why fasting and abstinence are still required by the Catholic Church if this was not done on Ash Wednesday.

2. I usually explain the meaning of Lenten observances during Ash Wednesday. I use the Sundays of Lent to give a more prolonged treatment of each of the ideas I enumerate on Ash Wednesday. I normally use the Lenten Prefaces as a key. For Sunday I, the preface goes:

His fast of forty-days makes this a holy season of self-denial.
By rejecting the devil’s temptations he has taught us

to rid ourselves of the hidden corruption of evil
and so to share his paschal meal in purity of hearts

until we come to its fulfillment
in the promised land of heaven.

Note that the following sub-themes can follow from the reference to Jesus’ own forty days in the desert:

• Self-denial as a characteristic of the season
• The aim of the Lenten exercises is the purification of hearts
• Lent highlights the Christian life as a journey towards the promised land of heaven, a theme that Augustine used in De doctrina christiana (On Christian Formation). This theme can be preached on as an alternative to Christian life as “Christian Combat”
• In the journey mentioned above, the Eucharist is like the food one takes along the way, the viaticum that St. Thomas writes about. Here too, we find a theme related to the Lenten fast: we deny ourselves earthly food so that we can more fully enjoy the food from heaven.