Come to the Water

Lent–40 Days

After I get the house tidy, the kids and I will go to receive our ashes for Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the 40 days of Lent.

The Holy Father tells us in his book, Jesus of Nazareth,

         “Jesus “fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry” (Mt 4:2).  In Jesus’ day the number of forty was already filled with rich symbolism for Israel.  First of all, it recalls Israel’s forty years’ wandering in the desert, a period in which the people were both tempted and enjoyed a special closeness to God.  The forty days and nights also remind us of the forty days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai before he was privileged to receive the word of God, the sacred tablets of the Covenant.  They may also serve as a reminder of the rabbinictale of how Abraham spent forty days and forty nights on the way to Mount Horeb, where he was to sacrifice his son, how during that time he neither ate nor drank anything and nourished himself on the vision and words of the angel who accompanied him” (29).

Now, my knowledge is new and very limited when it comes to theology, but I wonder why there is not a line more clearly drawn between the significance of the number 40 in the Biblical texts, and the 40 weeks of gestation that it takes the human child to become ready for its entrance into the world.

In his book Pope Benedict goes on to say:

          “The Fathers of the Church, stretching number symbolism in an admittedly slightly playful way, regarded forty as a cosmic number, as the numerical sign for this world.  The four “corners” encompass the whole world, and ten is the number of the commandments.  The number of the cosmos multiplied by the number of the commandments becomes a symbolic statement about the history of this world as a whole.  It is as if Jesus were reliving Israel’s Exodus, and then reliving the chaotic meanderings of history in general; the forty days of fasting embrace the drama of history, which Jesus takes into himself and bears all the way through to the end” (29).

Not that I would presume to add to what the Holy Father has to say, but doesn’t it seem to follow that the first and most basic exodus is followed by the 40 weeks in the womb?  Don’t the 40 weeks of pregnancy also embrace the drama of all human history, (at least the sinful fallen human history)?

The first act of humanity that Jesus Christ enjoined himself to was to be conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary, and to gestate for 40 weeks; just like all of the sinners of the world.

It is something I have never heard discussed before.  Forgive my ignorance if the Church already addresses this topic!  

I have to wonder, if maybe we could be doing more to emphasize the holiness of pregnancy; as a unique opportunity to be closer to the Lord as the co-creator of human life, and as a penitential act of sacrifice. 

In this age of the legalized slaughter of millions of children by way of the atrocity of abortion, it seems like it would be wonderful  to put a firm emphasis on the potential for holiness during the 40 weeks of pregnancy.

You Are Alive!

This is how our Deacon described Ed and me when we were talking with him after class last week.  What a beautiful compliment.

Yes, we are alive, more than he could know!  To truly be alive you first must die, and it seems like over the past 11 years  (and more, separately) Ed and I have died a thousand ways trying to find our way to the Truth. 

What gifts the Lord gives when you open your eyes to Him.  Nothing is impossible. 

Send us out to be Your hands and feet!  Unwavering is the Heart that bled for the sins of man.

Much Better

It was about a month ago now that I wrote that post detailing the ways in which I felt like I was fighting daily to keep from slipping into a vegetative state. 

After a month of mega-dosing myself with vitamins, I’m glad to report an almost miraculous return of regular energy.  I’m assuming this means I’m low on one or more essential vitamins; maybe Bs, definitely D, probably other things as well.

It’s been less than six months since I stopped breastfeeding Sean, and before that I went through more than 5 years of pregnancy, chronic vomiting, and nursing my 3 sons.    Sometimes I did all 3 of those things at once.  That’s what I call multi-tasking.

I don’t think you have to go to medical school to put it all together.  I’ve gotten behind the proverbial eight ball when it comes to some essential nutrients.  I’ve noticed a big change after a month.  Still not perfect, still fatigued, but much better.

As for the other things on my list, well, I’m trying.  I’ve cut down on my coffee, trying to drink tea instead when the cravings kick in.  We’ve cut way down on fast food, which has been easier without all the running around we do during December. 

The exercise, not so much.  But I did tile the bathroom floor, which is something I wouldn’t have had the energy or motivation to accomplish a month ago. 

Who knows what’ll happen if I keep this up.  I might just take over the world.