Lent, Noah's Arc, and Baptism

What's Noah's Arc have to Do with Lent? Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio   Download and listen on your MP3 or iPod!   In today’s fuzzy moral landscape, it is quite unpopular to even speak of sin, never mind condemn it. It’s even more politically incorrect to talk about God taking stern action against sin and those who promote it.   But that is exactly what the story of Noah and the flood is all about, as we are reminded by this Sunday’s readings. The great flood is a testament to God’s hatred of sin and determination to wipe it from the face of the earth. He of course offers a way to escape the waters of destruction; he instructs Noah to build an ark which carries eight people and a pairs of every animal to safety. With these, he provides the earth and the human race with a new beginning. As a sign of God’s covenant of friendship with the newly recreated world, he places a rainbow in the sky.   From the beginning, Christians have seen in this story a hint of a greater work of God that would come later. The first flood swept away the evil from the surface of the earth, but not from the hearts of the ark’s passengers. The Red Sea closing in upon Pharaoh and his armies had much the same limitation–it did not cleanse the soul of Israel.   So an even greater act of salvation was needed, one that was more radical, that penetrated to the very "root" of evil. God himself enters into our world in the form of a man, and engages in hand to hand combat with the father of lies. First Jesus himself is immersed in the waters, a sign of the destruction of sin, though he himself has no sin. Next he goes into the wilderness to strike at sin’s patron.   The wrestling match is won by the Son. This, however, is not the decisive battle. Mark is a gospel of few words and does not note what Luke (4;13) tells us: Satan left him to await another opportunity. That opportunity came later, brokered by Judas, Caiphas, and Pilate. On the cross, the sign of this New Covenant, Jesus decisively vanquished sin and its patron, letting loose from his own pierced side a stream that was more powerful than the ancient waters of Noah and Moses’ day. Through faith and immersion in these mighty waters of baptism, sin can finally be scoured not just from the skin but from the heart, putting to death not men, but the old humanity, separated from God and infected with the disease of disobedience. The first Letter of Peter (3:20) points out something that some might miss–their happened to be 8 persons in the ark. Jesus rose from the day after the sabbath, the "eighth day." God created the old world in six days, rested on the seventh, and performed the new creation on the eighth. For this reason, in the early Church, baptisms did not usually take place inside the main church sanctuary. Rather, separate smaller buildings called baptistries were erected next door. It is notably that they were generally octagonal- eight-sided. For baptism means burying the old man with Christ and emerging from the womb of the Church as a new creation, sharing in Christ’s resurrection.   Lent is a time intimately linked with baptism. In the early Church, it was the season that catechumens prepared themselves through prayer and fasting for their paschal journey to the baptistry. The faithful prayed and fasted with them. It was also the time that those who had soiled the white garments of their baptism through sin prepared for reconciliation during the sacred Triduum.   If we’re honest, all of us fall to some degree into that second category. So let us determine-- through prayer, fasting, and giving--to intercede for the catechumens and candidates, and at the same time to scour compromise and luke-warmness from our own hearts. Procrastination and excuses must be put to death. Now is the acceptable time, now the day of salvation.   For more resources, devotions, and readings for the 40 days of Lent, visit the Crossroads Lenten library.     To download and print Noah's Ark and Lent - Click here!     For more Catholic resources to feed your faith, visit the Crossroads Initiative Homepage.   To sign up for our free weekly e-mail with Dr. D'Ambrosio's commentary on the Sunday readings, liturgical feasts, updates on where Dr. D will be speaking, a chance to WIN a FREE CD and MORE, CLICK HERE!   This was originally published in Our Sunday Visitor  as a reflection upon the readings for the 1st Sunday in Lent, liturgical cycle B (Gen 9:8-15; Ps 25; I Pet 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15). It is reproduced here with the permission of the author. I Believe - The Heart of Catholic Faith First given as a Lenten retreat, this is an awesome 4 session program to revitalize your faith and prepare you for the joy of Easter.  Great for individuals or families or small groups. The workbook is a treasure of discussion questions, devotions and spiritual exercises that can serve as an easy-to-follow roadmap through the Lenten season that will break you out of stale patterns and enrich both your prayer and your understanding of the central truths of the Catholic faith, empowering you to share that faith with others. Why Be Catholic? Marcellino D'Ambrosio's personal pilgrimage of faith from nominal Catholic teen rock 'n roller to active and vibrant faith in Christ, and why he decided to remain in the Catholic church. This makes a wonderful gift for anyone coming into the Church or for anyone who needs a fresh outlook! 60 min. compact disc. Also available on DVD!   Exploring the Catholic Church Exploring the Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice by Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio is an accessible, affordable Roman Catholic Book--perfect gift for anyone!! -- the inactive Catholic, the Sunday Catholic wanting to know more, Protestants who want to know why Catholics do what they do.         Scriptural Rosary with Luminous Mysteries Insert -- Rosary Meditation Aid Deepen your Lenten Meditation on the Incarnation, ministry, passion and ressurection of the Lord with this Hardcover Scriptural Rosary devotional book with Luminous Mysteries included. The Scriptural Rosary makes meditating on the mysteries of the rosary so much easier! It is the perfect size to keep in your purse of pocket and makes a thoughful gift for anyone coming into the Catholic Church this Easter!    $9.95