Daily Meditation for February 18, 2026

What time is it? We think and talk a lot about time. Time is important to us. We talk about spending time, taking time, using time, wasting time, saving time. We try to be on time. If we are sensitive about disrupting someone’s schedule, we might ask, “Is this a bad time?” When things go well, we sometimes credit that to good timing. People in jail speak of “doing time.” In the Bible, 40 was a significant number when referring to time. There were 40 days of darkness and struggle for Noah while living in the ark. The chosen people wandered in the desert for 40 years. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert before beginning his public ministry. And today we begin the 40 days of Lent, a time to leave our self-centeredness behind, and reach out to others in need. Now is the time!

By Mary Weidner, OSB