Today we celebrate this first Sunday in the Lenten season. In Latin this is known to us as the first Sunday of Quadragesima. Quadragesima in English translates to “forty days” as a reminder that in this season we stand forty days away from our celebration of Easter.
The number forty becomes an important number throughout Sacred Scripture. Thus to name a few of these occasions: it rained for a period of forty days and nights leading to the Great Flood, Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea and into the desert where they wondered about lost for a period of forty years, and as was heard in our Gospel Christ went into the desert to pray and fast for a period of forty days and nights.
It is the purpose of the Lenten season to prepare us for our encounter with the Risen Lord at Easter. It is also the purpose of this season to prepare us for renewal in the fact that we were baptized in the waters of baptism. It is through sin that we stain our baptismal garment that was given to us on this most important of days.
This number comes to represent the journey that we make in this life towards the life which is to come. Through the Red Sea the Israelites passed as we pass through the waters of baptism. From here they wondered about lost as we wonder about this life. They then complained against God as we often complain against God and return to the slavery of sin. Nevertheless, God heard their plea and poured out bread from Heaven upon them as we are fed by the Most Holy Eucharist. Despite the many twists and turns of life they were oriented towards the Promised Land as we are oriented towards the Kingdom of Heaven. May we not turn back to our old ways of life, but instead be nourished by the sacraments and remain on this life giving path.
If we are to remain upon this path we must remain on guard “against the wickedness and snares of the devil.” Therefore we must remember that the devil is real. The greatest lie that the devil can make us believe is that he does not exist and sadly there are many who have bought into this lie; including those who attend Mass week in and week out. In our Gospel the devil attempted to temp our Blessed Lord, but his lies had no power over Him. We must stay on guard against him at all times.
For this reason the season of Lent is so important for us. The season of Lent is an avenue which directs our sight towards God by orienting it towards what is actually important in this life. Jesus goes into the desert and shows us the need to pray and fast. Through these practices we come to rebuke “the wickedness and snares of the devil” which attempt to overcome us and cause us to retreat to the life that we had known before baptism, a life of sin and death.
