Today is my 400th post and I will be considering the number 40 on this first Sunday of Lent. Crazily enough it is my 40th post for 2012. How interesting is that?!
Today’s readings are a bit of a numbers game. The Old Testament reading from Genesis is a look at God allowing it to rain 40 days and 40 nights in order to flood the earth until it was destroyed. His conversation with Noah is when he establishes his covenant to never again do this. He sets the rainbow as a sign of his promise.
In Mark’s brief telling of the 40 days in the desert, we do not see how Jesus is tempted. Instead we discover that God sent angels to wait on him. During Lent we have 40 days to examine our lives and see the ways in which the Prince of Darkness tempts us. On the flip side, we must also search for the angels who wait on us during our desert times.
I am encountering my wild beasts through the Rosary Novena that I am doing. I see where and when I am uncharitable, unforgiving, lethargic, distracted, and all those other traits I do not like about myself. Today I am deciding to put up an angel alert so that I can be more attuned to them when they appear on the scene.
What wild beasts are hounding you this Lent? Awareness is half the battle. Know them well and decide not to feed them. Fear, competition, jealousy, and the like can creep quietly into our sacred spaces and gnaw on any bone they can get. Make an effort this Lent not to feed the beasts. Rather let us look for the angels and call on them to help us through the moments of our temptations.
Peace,
Suzanne
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