L E N T: Lent begins on ash wedndy, which is actually 46 days b/4 Easter. We say dt lent is 40 days in nuba becos d six sundays re excluded 4rm d rigors of lent in orda 2 afford d faithful a time 2 pause n rejuvenate, gathering strength. Since d restructuring of d liturgical year afta vatican ll, d Easter triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday, is nt included in d lenten season. So d actual days of rigorous lenten observance re approxmately 40 days. D nuba 40 is found frequently in scripture 2 signify either a time of penitential preparation, or a time of punishment n affliction sent 4rm God. D Old T is replete with e.g of d use of 40: God punished mankind by sending a flood ova d earth dt lasted 40 days n 40 9ts (Gen 7:12); d people of Ninevah repented with 40 days of fasting when Jonah preach d destruction of of Ninevah (jonah 3:4); Moses n d Hebrew people wanda in d desert 4 40 years (Num 14:34); d prophet Ezekiel had 2 lie on his right said 4, 40 days as a figure of d siege dt was 2 bring Jerusalem 2 destruction( Ez 4:6); d prophet Elijah fasted n prayed on Mount Horeb 4, 40 days (l kings 19:8); n finally, Moses fasted 40 days n 40 9ts while on Mt. Sinai ( Ex 34:28). In d Nw T we find our lord fasting n praying 4, 40 days n 40 9ts in d desert in preparation 4 d public ministry dt would end in his redeeming death ( Lk 5:35). He is d new Adam who ovacums d temptations of d devil n remians faithful 2 God; d nw Israel, who reveals himself as God Servant by his total obedince 2 d divine ll, in contrast 2 those who provoked God in d desert. D church sets aside d 40 days of lent in orda dt we might imitate Our Lord by our fasting, prayer, self-denial n gud wrks, n thereby prepare our heart 4 an Easter renewal. By d solemn 40 days of lent d church unites herself each yr 2 d mystery of Jesus in d desert. And I, pray as u read dis text, God ll strenghten u bth body n soul truth out dis season of lent. In Jesus name.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 09:10:23 +0000