Joel 2:1-2; 12-17; Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Feb. 17, 2010
Lent – A time of self-examination, penitence, new life
Lent is a season of 40 days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Saturday before Easter.
Why is Lent 40 days? The number 40 occurs several times in key events recorded in scripture. Some these are:
- It rained 40 days and nights during the flood recorded in Genesis when Noah and company were saved on the arch. (Ge 7)
- Moses was on Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments for 40 days. (Ex 24)
- The spies appointed by Moses spent 40 days investigating the land of Canaan to understand if they were strong enough to conquer the inhabitants there. (Nu 13)
- Israel wandered in the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula for 40 years between their escape from bondage in Egypt and crossing the Jordan River into Canaan.
- The prophet Elijah fled from his persecutors to Mt. Horeb for 40 days and nights. (1 Kings 19)
- Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days and nights. (Mt, Mk, Lk)
- After the resurrection Jesus spends 40 days teaching about the kingdom of God before he ascended back to heaven. (Acts 1:3)
All of these events revolve around common themes of sin, temptation, stress coupled with rescue and new beginning. Therefore, historically the season of Lent also focuses on these themes. It is a time for self-examination and repentance for the reality of sin that still lives in us. This is a time to seek reconciliation with God and others too if we have become estranged or separated in some way.
We are familiar with the practice of giving up something for Lent. Fasting is closely associated with this. Trivial: giving up chocolate for 40 days. Serious: fasting once a week during Lent.
More recently, the practice of giving up something has been counter balanced with the idea of adding something to our life that would be good. Volunteer at local ministry, or participate in bible study, or personal study of scripture.
The goal of spending 40 days on spiritual development is to grow closer to God, deeper in faith, and service as a follower of Jesus.
This brings me to the word 'lent' itself. It comes from an Anglo-Saxon word, 'lencten' which means "to lengthen." During Lent the light of the sun actually does lengthen leading up to spring and the rebirth of life in the natural world. Just as nature prepares for spring and new life, so during Lent we anticipate the new life that is born through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The goal of this holy discipline is not to engage in endless self-flagellation and burying one's self in guilt. This is why the 40 days do not include Sundays. Sundays are 'little Easters' and thus, these are to be 'joyful reminders of the good news of the Resurrection itself which lies on the other side of sin and death, even death on a cross.
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. The mark of ashes on the forehead or hand is a reminder of our mortal nature, "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" and a confession of our sin before God. But this is done in the context of God's forgiveness in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. With the mark of the ashes we are saying that we want to be serious about our faith in Christ and growing as a disciple.
In this spirit I invite you to observe a holy Lent by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Word.