In the Bible, MOUNTAINS are common places of prayer and of encounter with the Lord. In our Sunday readings over Lent, we will journey to a number of Mountains, starting with the Mount of Temptation (First Sunday of Lent), and ending with Mount Calvary (where Jesus was Crucified).
To help focus your prayer this Lent, consider spending time praying on each of these Mountains and see what the Lord might want to show you in your prayer. Here are some suggested Scripture passages, to help focus your prayer on each “Mountain of Prayer” this Lent.
Mountain of Temptations – The mountain in the wilderness Jesus where Jesus prayed for forty days, and contended with Satan, battling temptations. Here are the Gospel passages of this event:
– Luke 4:1-13 (First Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading); Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13
It is believed that this occurred on the mountain that overlooks the Ancient City of Jericho. In fact there is a Christian Monastery built on the very spot. So there is also a theme of “Spiritual battle” connected here. So we can also pray with story of Joshua at Jericho as a spiritual metaphor in our struggle against Satan, temptation, and evil. Joshua 5:9-15 & Joshua 6
Mountain of Transfiguration – Luke 9:28-36 (Second Sunday of Lent Gospel Reading); Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-9
Mount Horeb/Sinai – in the Bible, Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai are two names for the same Mountain. It is where Moses received is call from the Lord. It is where Moses took the people of Israel after they were freed and crossed the Red Sea. It is where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and the Law of the Lord. Here are some passages to pray with Moses on Mt. Horeb/Sinai
–Exodus 3 (the Call of Moses) (Third Sunday of Lent: First Reading); Also Exodus 24; Exodus 33:7-23
Many centuries later, the Prophet Elijah would find himself very discouraged, on the verge of giving up, as he felt the whole world was against him. So he set out to Mount Horeb, where God made a covenant with the people of Israel. And there Elijah prayed. You can read and reflect with that passage in 1 Kings 19:3-14
Mount of Olives – The Mount of Olives is “next door” to Jerusalem. It is where the village of Bethany is, where lived Jesus’s friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. You can pray with the events of his encounter with those friends here: Luke 10:38-42 (Martha and Mary); John 11:38-44 (The Raising of Lazarus); John 12:3-6 (Mary of Bethany Anoints Jesus’ feet). Also, on the Mount of Olives is the famous Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed after the Last Supper, before the day of His Crucifixion. It is the place where he was arrested. You can read and reflect with that event in these passages: Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-14
God’s blessings on you all this Lenten Season!
Peace,
-Fr. Kevin
