Today is Ash Wednesday, a day which commences the Lenten season in many Christian faiths. Each denomination interprets how it follows the next forty days until Holy Thursday, which was the night of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples on the night before Passover.
During this time, Christians will sacrifice a pleasure one enjoys, whether it is meat, ice cream, a sweet, etc (fast), give alms, pray, and are reminded that Jesus did the same for us before He died.
Certainly, there is nothing any of us could do to achieve what was done for us by Him. But it is a worthy gesture of remembrance which we offer in His name to each other.
This period of reflection is not unheard by Jews or Muslims either. The forty-day Jewish period of reflection is dedicated to introspection, repentance (teshuvah), and reconciliation, honoring the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai seeking forgiveness for the Golden Calf.
The number forty holds significant spiritual weight in Islam, often representing a period of transition, purification and transformation. While specific rituals for a forty-day period are frequently cultural rather than strictly mandated by the Qur'an or Sunnah, several practices and beliefs revolve around this timeframe.
Forty is a highly significant, symbolic number in several religions besides the Abrahamic faiths. Hinduism, Zoroastorism and others also recognize this measure of time as it is generally representing a period of testing, trial, probation, or transformation. It often signifies a necessary transition, such as the forty days or years required for purification or preparing for a new beginning.
While these periods may fall at other times in the calendar for the many faiths which exist in our human lives, it is important to remember that is a human construct to dedicate time for reflection.
In Christendom, this period ends with a remembrance of the Crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, and celebration of His Resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday.
So, as we begin the Lenten season, we should reflect on how we can be a better person during the next year, being kinder to others less fortunate, and how we can dedicate ourselves to goals which may seem out of reach, but can be achieved with some extra effort. It really is not all that difficult.
After all... as many people seem to say as they challenge us, "What would Jesus do?"
No comments:
Post a Comment