So here we are. Lent 2013. Another 40 days of no caffeine, cookies, soda, candy, the snooze button, Facebook/Twitter, gossip, video games, complaining, showing up late, secular music, texting, TV, or homework (just kidding . . . don’t try it, it doesn’t work).
There could be a lot of different motivations behind those sacrifices – like a desire to lose weight, or to get attention . . . but that’s not exactly what Lent is about.
Catholics have 40 days of Lent because Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. 40 is a significant number in the Old Testament too. It rained for 40 days when Noah was in the ark. (Genesis 7:12) Moses was on Sinai for 40 days receiving the Ten Commandments and the law from God. (Exodus 34: 28 – 29) The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years after they were freed from bondage in Egypt and were heading for the “promised land.” (Joshua 5:6) The prophet Elijah did a 40 day Read more [...]
As Jesus was led out into the desert for 40 days, so are we invited to enter into the 40 days of Lent. We ask God, “Where am I weak? Where can I grow spiritually?” in order to fulfill our end of our covenant with Him. First Sunday of Lent: Gn 9:8-15; Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15 Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
