Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
(Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 67-15)
Katabasis is a Greek word meaning going down or
descent. Christian theology has employed
the term in reference to Jesus’ coming from heaven to save humanity. This use reflects Isaiah’s prophecy in today’s
first reading. God’s word, which in its
most prescient form is the Son, descends from heaven to earth to effect the
divine will.
Today’s gospel suggests a mirror image of heavenly katabasis. Human words in the form of prayer go up (anabasis
in Greek) to God who provides what the person needs. Jesus tells us that prayers should not be
multiplied beyond the simple petitions of the Our Father. The petitioner after recognizing God’s
holiness makes four requests. First, she
asks for the peace of God’s Kingdom. Then,
she requests bread both for the earthly table and the heavenly journey. Third, she looks for forgiveness of past
sins. Finally, she wants guidance to
avoid pitfalls on the way to her eternal home.
We understand the season of Lent as our heavenly journey. It is an ascent from worldly desires to the
purity of mountaintops. This ascent begins
with recognizing how sin has distanced us from God’s love. It proceeds with our being purified and
strengthened through Lenten disciplines.
It ends at the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection from the dead and the
pledge of our own.
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