For in (Christ) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in Him, who is the head of every ruler and authority…. when you were buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made us alive together with Him, when He forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Colossians 2: 9-10, 12-14, 3: 1-4
During the first centuries of the Church, baptism was an adult experience, as the Church grew through the evangelization of the pagan society. The experience of baptism would be a profound transformation. For most Armenians, we are baptized as infants, and while the transformation is no less significant to our souls, many of us may have no realization of it in our later years. Lent is an opportunity for us to renew our baptismal profession of faith each year. It is also a time for us to renounce any sinful practices we have become caught up in – we have become ensnared like a bird caught in a net. At the back of this book is the renunciation of sin that we profess at baptism and during Lent. You can make that renunciation today, or any day, for that matter. The more we renounce the sin of this world, the more we can set our minds on the things that are above. We must live our lives fully in this world and embrace the life God has given us: through our family, our work, our community, and our home. Let us live in communion with Christ in whom our truest self and life are hidden.
Let us pray with St. Gregory:
Almighty God, doer of good, creator of all,
save me with your strength, ridding me of my sins.
For you are capable of all things and are the key to all things
with your boundless greatness and infinite wisdom.
Cut me loose with your victorious sword of life, the cross,
and release me from the nets that have snared me.
Dispel the thick smoke of sin that has infused and obscured me.
Renew the image of light revered by the glory of your mighty name, my soul.
For you alone are blessed with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
Amen
Prayer 40 A, C
