"For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man … they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark [where just eight were saved as they continued preparations for forty days, a metaphor for gestation, anticipating new beginnings, a rebirth of humanity] … the flood came and [all others perished because of wickedness, evil, corruption, lawlessness, and depraved lives, see Genesis 6:5-11 ]. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man … Therefore, [be prepared]! For you do not know [when] your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:37-39, 42).
Being spiritually and scripturally prepared and obedient to the Law of the Lord, forty days after Jesus' birth, Joseph and Mary took Him to the temple in Jerusalem for new beginnings: Mary's purification rite and the presentation of Jesus to God the Father.
There, holy Simeon revealed that willful blindness, obstinance, and unbelief would ruin many souls. "And thy own soul a sword shall pierce" … (Luke 2). Contemplating those prophecies, let us consider Mary's afflicted heart consoling her with our prayerful repentance …
… that drew us closer to Jesus during Advent pondering the joyous birth of her innocent Infant and His Second Coming.
… that will prepare us during Lent reflecting on Mary's bitter agony as she gazed upon her innocent Son crucified for our sins.
Eternally prepared for our sinful state, God the Father permitted the suffering and death of His beloved Son because it was providential …
… that Jesus, being God the Son - the spotless Lamb, would be the perfect blood sacrifice, the price for our sins, to redeem and ransom us back into righteousness with the Father.
… that Jesus' precious blood poured-out would cleanse our sins so the Father's wrath would pass-over us seeing His Son's love and sacrificial blood rather than seeing our sins. Accordingly, that one time sacrifice of Christ is drawn down from eternity and is offered up to God the Father as an unbloody sacrifice making holy our prepared offerings at every Catholic Mass appeasing and pleasing Him, see Mark 14:12-24; John 6:53-58.
… that by meditating on Christ's Passion, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension after forty days, we would have the faith to trust in His mercy as we repent, beginning anew, and loving God and others more.
Unless exempt, we practice …
… fasting – self-denials, submitting to God, recognizing our dependence on Him making prayer more powerful.
… abstinence – meatless Fridays, willing sacrifices, remembering on Good Friday Jesus' sinless flesh suffered for our sinful flesh.
… almsgiving – charitable acts, attending to needs of the poor.
During these forty days of Lent in preparation for new beginnings, a rebirth, contemplate the suffering and sorrow of Jesus and Mary as they endured the Way of the Cross. "For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:20): may we leave sin, pick up our crosses, persevere in following Christ in His Faith, and thereby console Mary's heart.
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