In my Scripture reflections this Lent, I am taking up (again) the theme of God's grace. I began with an Ash Wednesday reflection specifically on grace as given to us in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. In connection with the readings for the first Sunday of Lent, I would like to consider briefly the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism.

As I have noted in past years, the first Sunday of Lent might be called "Temptation Sunday." Our Gospel reading is always one of the accounts of the temptation of Christ in the desert. This year, we hear St. Mark's account, which leaves out the details of the temptations and Jesus' responses. Together with this reading, we hear from Genesis and from St. Peter about Baptism and one of its Old Testament prefigurations, the story of Noah and the great flood.

What does the water of Baptism have to do with the dry sand of the desert? We might note that Jesus goes out into the desert immediately after being baptized in the Jordan by John. There is, then, at least, some connection between these two events in Jesus' own life, and also, we might add, between each of these and the Cross. As he is baptized for us - as he humbles himself in this way in order to sanctify the waters of Baptism for us - so he is tempted for us, to be with us, to be our strength, in our own times of temptation. And as his Baptism anticipates his death and resurrection (and as our own reception of this Sacrament is a participation in his death and resurrection), so his suffering and temptation in the desert anticipates that of the Garden and the Cross (and our own is, again, a participation in these).

There is likewise a connection in our own lives between Baptism and dealing with temptation - a connection established by means of the Cross. Of course, Baptism takes away original sin and also any personal sins that a person may have committed. Baptism does not take away all of the effects of original sin. The various disharmonies that result from the fall - within the person, between persons, between the person and the rest of creation - remain. Hence, temptation remains, even what we might call temptation "from within," as distinguished from the temptation "from without" that our first parents initially experienced and that Jesus experienced. But the grace of Baptism - union with the Triune God, through Jesus Christ in his saving death and resurrection, as sons and daughters in him, as members of his Body and Bride - does strengthen us, even to the point that we may be sure that we will have enough (even if sometimes just enough) strength to resist any temptation that God permits in our lives.

As I noted above, I wrote about the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation for Ash Wednesday. It is good to have received this Sacrament before the beginning of Lent, or during the first days of Lent. It is also good to receive it again as this holy season continues. We know that this Sacrament renews in us the effects of the Sacrament of Baptism. Confession and sacramental absolution takes away the sins that we have committed after Baptism (and after our previous Confession). It also renews in us God's strengthening grace, the strength to resist future temptation.

Let us, then, during this season of Lent, be renewed in our baptismal graces, in God's strength for times of temptation. Let us reflect on and thank God for these graces. Let us grow in these graces by bringing others to appreciate them - by encouraging new parents to have their children baptized soon after birth, and by taking part in the Church's mission of evangelization to those older children and adults who do not know Christ, and by making the one Body of Christ better known to those baptized people who are not in full communion with this Church. Let us have recourse to the Sacrament of Penance for this renewal of baptismal grace, especially if we have sinned mortally, even if we, please God, have sinned only venially. Let us do penance to develop our cooperation with God's strengthening grace. Let us prepare for the joyful renewal and reminder of our Baptism, the renewal of baptismal promises and profession and the sprinkling with holy water at the Easter Vigil, and for another joyful reminder and also fulfillment of our Baptism, the eternal refreshment that God offers us from the river of life in heaven.