40
The season of Lent
is 40 days (excluding Sundays) to represent Jesus’ 40 days in the
wilderness. Noah was adrift in the flood
for 40 days and 40 nights. The Israelites spent 40 years in the desert. Connect these wilderness times together and to your own experience. Also, what is the deal with the number 40? Are there any other 40's in the Bible that are worth including here?
ReplyDeleteResilience
[Little Flock]
Forty days to endure;
Stunning doubt, meets its cure;
Each one finding faith’s answer,
Creator’s sure favor,
Word Made Flesh our hope pure.
Noah heard from the Lord,
Sin would die by God’s word,
An ark Noah must construct
A remnant of mercy,
Soon the great storm he heard.
Moses walk’d up Mt. Sinai,
To meet God by and by,
In cloud Law was given,
Satan’s power shriven,
Book People now know why.
Word Made Flesh desert test,
Evil’s power did wrest,
Holy One could be trusted,
History ever chang’d,
Forty days He did quest.
Sisters, brothers, go forth,
Our mission has great worth,
Suffering builds great mercy,
Fear not life’s true challenge,
Sing of joy, grace’s mirth.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
20.3.14
The number 40 probably means "a lot". The story is about self actualization. It was for Jesus and it is for us. Finding ourselves is the quest of a lifetime. Just when we think we have it settled, we get older or make our lives different. We need this time of Lent to reflect on our journey. For me it is a process of finding and letting go. Taking off the psychological back pack and seeing what I am tired of carrying around and packing new things in instead. It always seems lighter. It amazes me both how much stuff I have packed up, what is rotting and what I have forgotten about. And I have to say it- paths not taken. But here is today's hill or valley and I am bound to take it, pretty sure of where I am going and why, but usually surprised in all kinds of ways as I pass through.
ReplyDeleteSharing back pack contents is a fun thing. It keeps you in awe. Good companions are a blessing.
In a way we shouldn't know about Jesus' 40 days. That was his business, ours is to use our own time wisely.
Doug Millar