As today's readings show, the purpose of Lent is for us to unite ourselves to Jesus' 40 days of fasting and temptation in the desert; so that, through him, we might overcome Satan and become more deeply committed to our baptismal promises, which we will renew on Easter Sunday.
In baptism, we entered into the new covenant with God, which is like a marriage. God made the vow or promise to be our Father, and we made the vow or promise to be his sons and daughters. In other words, God promised to cleanse us of our sins, fill us with his divine life, strengthen us to defeat our enemies of Satan, sin, and death, and share his eternal happiness with us in heaven. We promised to be faithful to him by rejecting Satan and sin, and by believing in all that he has revealed to us in Christ, a revelation Christ himself has kept preserved in the Catholic Church.
Even though we will not renew our baptismal promises, as a Church, until Easter Sunday, it is good for us, as individuals, to keep them in mind during Lent:
Celebrant: Do you reject Satan?
Response: I do.
Celebrant: And all his works?
Response: I do.
Celebrant: And all his empty promises?
Response: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
Response: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Response: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
Response: I do.
May our loving God strengthen us to unite ourselves fully to our Lord's 40 days in the desert, so that we will be ready to renew, with full love and commitment, our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday.
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