Cuaresma (Lent)

by:  Bro. Mar Dichavez

Cuaresma is taken from the word forty.  Why forty, and not 50, 30, 20 or 10?

 

It is presented in the Bible several times in relation to man’s salvation.  God fashioned it which endpoint is deliverance.

 

In science, the root of ailment is attributed to the foodstuff that humans eat which are identified by doctors as perilous to health.  On the other hand, in the Scripture, death started because human had gone beyond to what had been prescribed. 

Fasting began in creation:  "You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and bad. From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die." Genesis 2:16)

All of God’s precepts are shaped for man’s benefits.  Fasting is not only intended for physical aspect but also for spiritual, teaching us to control. 

At the age of 80 years old, my mother could still eagerly fast in spite of my forbidding her as she’s already exempted on this brought by her age.  She has been assertive telling me that she is still strong to do it.  Quite the reverse, I could not fast because I am diabetic and it is  prohibited to skip meals having this infirmity. 

Moderation is where temptation starts.  God knows and perceives our needs.  There are things that can’t be sacrificed because of medical conditions but there are still others that we could sacrifice aside from food. 

In 365 days, it’s only 2 days that eating meat is outlawed which is every Lent and Good Friday.  Do you think that turning to this 2-day prescription would take your life?

Why does God choose meat than ice cream?  At the time, meat had been renowned which gave significance to feasts during the time of the Jews.

The advent of Lent which is treated by others as a difficult practice teaches humans to control from gratification.  If meat is not delicious to you than gossiping, then you should prevent news-mongering, or any other worldly desires, to be prosperous in Spiritual life. 

Matthew 6:1 "But take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father"... In the Old Testament, people sprinkle ashes to draw attention.

By man’s disobedience, God reminds us to accomplish 40 days; the thing that Adam and Eve had not been accomplished.  Jesus had been able to comply on this 40 days and 40 nights by fasting d(Matthew 4:2) which calls an emulation.

So what’s the significance of 40 days to salvation? At the time, the people who believed Noah, they were saved and to those who doubted him were otherwise (Genesis 7:12-17).

Genesis 3:19t  By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat, until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; For you are dirt, and to dirt you shall return."

It had been 40 years that the Israelites journeyed form Egypt (Exodus 16:35). It reached up to 40 years because the Israelites had been submerged in Egyptian culture for 400 years which needed 40 years of purging.  So don’t lose hope when your brethren at a halt in the same behaviour for ten years.

Moses remained in Sinai for 40 days(Exodus 34:28).He fasted while in prayers and where God talked to him. Because of fasting, Moses had turned into radiance of white including his hair because it’s only the soul that was left as he went out of Mount Sinai. 

In 40 days of Moses’ conversation with God, he received the slabs of the 10 commandments.

Aaron and Moses together with the community reconnoitered and spied the invaders for 40 days (Numbers 13:25-26).

It had been 40 days that Goliath threatened Israelites (1 Samuel 17:16).

Elijah traversed to Horeb for 40 days (1 Kings 19:8).

Mark 1:13 Jesus remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.

Nineveh was given a 3-day grace period  to repair their values which message was navigated through Jonah (Jonah 3:5), and the people of Ninevites  both great and small believed God, proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth.

Syria had been known for being a barbaric that killed people by skinning and hanging the victim on the walls.  On other occasions, they would skewer the victim and let the victim die gradually.  It was through this that Jonah was afraid to go to Nineveh.

In relation to control, I had a lady visitor who came from abroad to invest on missionary function.  Little did I know that she was attracted on me up to the point that she would put her hands on my leg while taking our meals.  I was ashamed to my family because they have not been used to it.  This temptation would have not been controlled had it came about in my old life, considering that I’ve been a widower for 3 years.

God is good in anticipation.  When Jonah was thrown out of the ship, he was swallowed by large fish.  According to the experts, perhaps it was a whale that ingested Jonah because it is only this kind that is with wider mouth that does not chew.

In the same way, serving God is like this.  When fear is surmounted, it’s God that reigns yet.  God gives 40 days and 40 nights of grace period to Nineveh which is also given to everybody for us to live.