LENT: A Season of Grace

Lent : A Season of Grace

Ash Wednesday, 22nd February 2012, marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. Lent comes from an old English word which means 'springtime.' In Spanish , it's 'Cuaresma' and in Latin, it's 'Quadragesima' meaning "fortieth." Thus the number 40 is significantly relevant in the celebration of Lent. We have 40 days of the entire season of Lent. We have here some Biblical references to support the importance of number 40.
First , Genesis 7:4 , during the time of Noah , there was a great flood. God made it rain for forty days and nights. Only on the 40th day did the water subside.
Second, Exodus 24:18, Moses went up the mountain of Sinai and spent 40 days fasting. He received the Ten Commandments from God.
Third, Numbers 14:33, the Israelites wandered 40 years travelling to the Promised Land.
Fourth, 1 Kings 19:8, When the prophet Elijah is being pursued by Queen Jezebel , he flees for his life and travels 40 days and nights until he comes to the mountain of God at Horeb (Sinai).
Fifth, Jonah 3:4 , Jonah prophesied 40 days of judgment for Nineveh to repent.
Sixth, Matthew 4:1-2 , Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-2 , Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness praying and fasting and was tempted by the devil.
Seventh: Acts 1:3, It is the traditional belief that Jesus lay for 40 hours in the tomb.

   The number 40 actually serves a symbolic function.Forty denotes a period for some special action of God , it is a time of grace. For instance , during the time of Noah, a new creation begins after the flood. When Moses converses with God and receives the Ten Commandments , the covenant is renewed. After wandering for 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites will finally enter the Promised Land. After Jesus' temptation, he begins his public ministry and after the Ascension, marks the beginning of the age of the Church. Thus the number 40 symbolizes a time of grace for us.

   We make Lent not only a season of penance and fasting. This is a time for reflection, an examination of conscience which prepares us for the celebration of the great feast of Easter, through which we attain salvation.
   On Ash Wednesday, as the priest imposes ashes on our foreheads , it would be like we are trying to imitate what the Ninevites did by making penance in sackcloth and ashes. We come to God with a sincere and a contrite heart. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our 'mortality' as the priest says "Remember, You are dust, and unto dust you shall return. "Memento Mori" (Remember that you will die.) And therefore, there is a need to prepare when we are confronted with such moment.
   A teacher once asked his students this question, "What are you giving up during this season of Lent?:" To which the students gave various responses. One student said he is giving up 'chocolates' as his personal penance. Another one said he is giving up 'too much time for computer games' as a form of sacrifice. Still another one said , he is giving up 'smoking.' 'Good!' the teacher said, 'those will make a good offering to the Lord. In the end the teacher explained to the students - "There is only one thing that you should give up during the season of Lent and the rest of your life - i.e. SIN!