of the Lord's passion is drawing near? By this annual celebration of Lent the
SERMON 210 121
Where is your God (Ps 42:3)? Indeed, we believe in him as he is now seated at the right hand of the Father; and yet as long as we are in the body, we are wandering in exile away from him15; nor are we able to point him out to those who doubt or deny him and say, Where is your God? Rightly did his apostle long to be released and to be with him. But while he did not think that to remain in the flesh was the best thing for him, he thought it was necessary for us.16
Here the thoughts of mortals are timid, and our plans are uncertain; because an earthly habitation weighs down upon the mind thinking many things (Wis 9:14-15). As a result, human life on earth is a trial (Jb 7:1), and in the night of this age a lion prowls about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pt 5:8). Not the lion from the tribe of Judah, our king;17 but the lion which the devil is, our adversary. Christ, though, realizes in himself alone the characteristics of the four living creatures from the Revelation of John; bom as a man, acting like a lion, sacrificed like a bull-calf, he flew like an eagle.18 He flew upon the wings of the wind, and established the dark as his hiding place (Ps 18:11). He established the dark, and night was made, in which all the beasts of the forest pass by.19 Lion cubs roaring, tempters, that is, through whom the devil is seeking whom he may devour; not indeed that they have any power or authority, except over those whom they have received; because in that same psalm it continues like this: seeking their food from God (Ps 104:21). In the night of this age, so full of dangers and temptations, are there any who wouldn't be afraid, who wouldn't be shaken to the marrow, in case they should be judged as only fit to be left to be devoured by the jaws of so cruel an enemy? That is why we have to fast and pray.20
Special time for fasting
6. And when more properly, when more urgently than when the solemnity of the Lord's passion is drawing near? By this annual celebration of Lent the memory of this same night is somehow or other engraved in us afresh, in case it should be worn away by forgetfulness, in case that roaring devourer21 should find us asleep, not in body but in spirit. Because after all, what else does the Lord's passion itself present us with in our head Christ Jesus, but supremely the tests and trials of this life? That's why, as the time of his death drew near, he said to Peter, Satan has askedfor you all to sift you like wheat; and I have prayed, Peter, for you, that your faith should not fail; go and strengthen your brothers (Lk 22:31-32). And he certainly has strengthened us by his apostolate, his martyrdom, his letters. In them he too warned us to fear the night I'm speaking of, and instructed us to be warily vigilant, having the consolation of prophecy, as of a light in the night. We have, he said, the more certain prophetic word, to which you do well to attend, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Pt 1:19).