Every year this day, Ash Wednesday, rolls around and we begin the season of Lent. This is a season of 40 days plus Sundays that we remember Jesus’ 40 days in the desert preparing for his ministry to the world.
The number 40 in the Bible is a very symbolic number about testing.
When it rained and Noah took to the ark, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights.
When Moses went to the mountain to receive the 10 Commandments he stayed there for 40 days.
The Israelites wandered through the desert for 40 years.
And Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to prepare for his ministry. In each and every time, the number 40 was a time of testing and, in so many ways, a time of preparation for a new life on the other end.
Lent is ultimately about three things.
It is a time of repentance.
In verse 3 of Psalm 51 it says:
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Most of us are aware that we sin. In our heart of hearts we all know what we do well and where we fall short. Lent is a time to really reflect on this and try and grow away from sin. Often we look to turn away from sin, but often it’s easy to turn back. Growing away from sin often seems to a better way to approach it. It’s taking one step at a time toward a new life. Lent is a season of repentance.
Lent is also a season for renewal and renewal is a part of living a life of ongoing conversion. How can we make ourselves better?
Maybe it’s reading more or praying more or taking up a new hobby. Or exercising more. I heard something recently that was sort of a unique way of looking at things. We have become a society well versed in energy conservation----but that energy conservation is not what you are thinking. We conserve our OWN energy. We rarely ever have to run and even don’t have to walk very much any longer. Maybe one step we can make is to begin to use more of our energy and make ourselves move more. I know it’s something I’m planning on doing.
Lastly, Lent is a time of community. It is a time to get together, pray and study and spend time with your family of faith. It is a time to love deeply and grow together.
I watched a video on the Internet about Ash Wednesday and it had a clever little thing in it. It said that the classic American hero is the Lone Ranger. He is alone. He is self-made, and he is independent. The classic biblical hero, however, is Tonto. Tonto is part of a tribe, community minded, and dependent.
We often like to think we are clever, self-made, and independent, but when we do so we leave God out of the picture.
There’s a wonderful story set in the future when a group of scientists approach God and tell God that God is no longer needed. They scientists have figured out how to make human beings from the dirt, just like God did.
So God said, “Okay, make a person for me out of dirt.”
The scientists said, “Well, we need some dirt.”
To which God replied, “Create your own.”
This is the season we are beginning. It is a season of repentance, renewal, and community. It is also a season of dirt. The dirt, the ashes remind us that we are dust, and fully reliant on God.
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