14 and 40–It’s about time

Our summer of fun with biblical numbers is nearing the end. But not before we talk about 14 and 40–in the context of prayer, of course.

Step 1: Relax. Ask Jesus to visit with you. Tell Him any concerns on your mind.

Step 2: Read this prompt:

FOURTEEN is not symbolic, but it has a few interesting biblical associations dealing with time.

The genealogy of Jesus was described in three groups of fourteen: fourteen generations passed between Abraham and David, fourteen between David to the exile in Babylon, and fourteen between the exile and the birth of Jesus. (See Matthew’s Gospel.)

The gematria (the number arrived by summing the Hebrew value of consonant letters) of “David” is fourteen. Some scholars say fourteen stands for “double perfection”, that is, two times seven. But as we all know, David, as great as he was, was very far from perfection. (Okay, this one isn’t about time.)

The Catholic devotion “Way of the Cross” or “Stations of the Cross” has fourteen stations or “stops”–fourteen different scenes to think about concerning Jesus’ Passion and Death from the time He is arrested to His burial. [See blogs from early 2021 for more information on the Stations.]

The number forty is symbolic in the bible. It means “a very long time” or “a time of trial.” Some of the events associated with forty are: 40 days of the epic flood that Noah and his family survived. 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert before finding the Promised Land. 40 days after birth that Jesus was taken to the Sanctuary for obligatory rite of redemption. Forty years of peace in the time of the Judges. 40 days Jesus fasted and prayed in the desert. 40 days He stayed with the Apostles after the Resurrection.

Step 3: Talk to God as you would a friend. Tell Him your reaction to the prompt, including anything it brought to mind that you want to talk over with God.

Step 4: Contemplate. Sit in relaxed silence and listen for God to respond to what you said. Could He be speaking to you through the following scripture verse?

[not] to concern themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the plan of God that is to be received by faith.

1 Tm 1: 1-4

Step 5: Sum up your thoughts and feelings in a prayer to Jesus.

Step 6: Take something with you in your heart until you meditate with God again.

Please join on Thursday of this week for the beginning of our Birthday Verses.