First Sunday of Lent (Cycle A)

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The Temptation of Jesus Lectionary:  22 Reading 1 -  Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 Reading 2 -  Romans 5:12-19 Verse - Matthew 4:4b Gospel -  Matthew 4:1-11 One does not live on bread alone. Every year, we begin our Lenten journey in the same place: the desert.   The Gospel for this Sunday places Jesus in the wilderness, fasting and praying, confronted by temptation. In that stark setting we find the pattern of our own Lenten journey: a movement away from distraction toward the heart of God, a testing that reveals what truly sustains us, and a call to conversion that reshapes our lives.  Throughout our lives, we are frequently confronted with tests … and these tests generally reveal something about ourselves: In school, we demonstrate that we have mastered an academic subject with a test  in sports, we demonstrate our level of a particular skill with a contest  In life, we demonstrate the integri...
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Review: The Bible and Baptism: The Fountain of Salvation

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The Bible and Baptism: The Fountain of Salvation The Bible and Baptism: The Fountain of Salvation by Isaac Augustine Op Morales

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christian Baptism is probably the one key rites of initiation shared by all Christian traditions in some form or another. Over the years I have extensively contemplated on the nature and meaning of this sacrament as a preacher’s kid, catholic catechist, lay dominican and deacon candidate, so I thought that I had a pretty good handle on the subject. This book managed to surprise me with a well organized exploration of the central themes (redemption/salvation, communion/unity, new life/spirit and the new priesthood, which were comfortably familiar) as well as several nooks and crannies where I never thought to look before (such as how water is used within the OT - Part 1). 

Although this book was written by a Catholic theologian, his fundamentally solid biblical exegesis and accessible writing makes the book suitable for anybody who wants to understand the many dimensions of this sacrament, and why it forms the principle foundation for christian life (I would strongly recommend this as a group study as well).

Introduction: The Foundation of Salvation
Part 1 - Written for Our Instruction: Water in the Old testament

1. The Waters of Life
2. The Waters of Death
3. The Waters of Freedom
4. The Waters of Purity

Part 2 - The Substance Belongs to Christ: Baptism in the New Testament

5. Christ, the Model of Baptism
6. Christ, the Source of Baptism
7. Baptism “in the Name”
8. Dying and Rising with Christ
9. Being Clothed with Christ
10. Baptism and New Birth
11. Baptismal Purity
12. Baptismal Unity

Conclusion: Salvation through Worship
Appendix: Infant Baptism

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#TheBibleAndBaptism #NetGalley.

View all my reviews

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