March 2002

Before he began his earthly ministry, the Gospel writers are quick to let us know that he spend 40 days and 40 nights "getting his act together."

No doubt this was to parallel the 40 days and 40 nights Moses spent on Mt. Sinai receiving instructions from the Lord before beginning a new phase of his ministry – founding and nourishing and perpetuating The People of God – the Hebrew religion. While Moses waited, he heard God’s voice relaying page after page of instruction.

Jesus knew his scriptures, and no doubt this is why he went out alone for 40 days and 40 nights – if it worked for Moses, it should work for him – to wait and to listen for instructions from God.

Yet, we are told, it wasn’t God that Jesus found, was it? The Gospels say he was confronted by The Tempter himself – with the grandest and yet most basic human temptations. Given the right reward, The Tempter knew humans are all too willing to make a deal and to sell their souls – and we call it rationalization. The Tempter sounded pretty confident with his offers to Jesus – after all, it worked on Adam, and it worked on countless others throughout time. It always worked!

But, not this time!

The Gospel writers want us to know, in no uncertain terms, that Jesus kept the Devil at bay. And when the Devil struck out and went on to more fertile territory, the angels came to help Jesus. And, then, he began his ministry.

Throughout history, the Church has remembered these 40 days and 40 nights that Jesus (and Moses) spent getting ready for their greatest work. The greatest day in the life of the early Christians was Easter Sunday. They commemorated that event every single time they came together to worship. It was that significant to their lives! They just couldn’t stop talking about it – and talking about what the implications were for them – individually and collectively.

Some 400 years after the actual Easter experience, the Christians took to celebrating Easter in a grand festival once a year. And, almost from that beginning, the grand Easter festival was preceded by 40 days and 40 nights (plus the six Sundays) to prepare ourselves to receive the grand and glorious news of Easter and the implications of Easter on the lives we live. We call this season Lent. And we use the time to focus on the meaning of our belief.

Make an effort to join us each Sunday. You will be richly rewarded.

If you can’t join us, read your Bible, and pray for us. And, we will pray for you.

To help focus your attention and thoughts beyond yourself and your personal need to the need of others, us an alms box daily, and join with all the others in our One Great Hour of Sharing.

See you in church,