When Jesus came off the Mount of Transfiguration, He was heading toward Jerusalem and the Cross.  How long was the time between the two events? 40 days!  There are 40 days between Ash Wednesday and the Resurrection (not including Sundays) and 40 days between the Mount of Transfiguration and the Crucifixion (though it is a little longer as we celebrate them in the church).  These two periods of 40 days overlap in our calendar. But, as Ash Wednesday is a practice born out of the Church in Rome, the forty days between the Transfiguration and the Cross are the count of days between these events in Christ's life.  That does not make the practice of observing Ash Wednesday bad; it just shifts the significance of the 40 days, as there are forty days from the Mount of Transfiguration to the Cross and 40 days between the Resurrection and the day of Ascension.  Forty days in the wilderness for Jesus, 40 years in the wilderness for Israel, 40 days and nights for Noah in the Ark. And now 40 becomes a significant number for the faith.  Forty years is also the definition of a generation in the bible. 

I am not into numerology, but there is some significance to 40 in the Christian Faith, and I am reflecting on this today for no reason other than writing a missive for this newsletter.  So, what does it all mean? There is an order to what God does, and He orders the world and our lives and even time.  Often, this order is visible to those who take the time to look for it.  Now, we set aside some time for fasting and contemplation, well, 40 days, not including Sundays, between Ash Wednesday and Easter.  So, take this season of Lent to slow down and to reflect on the life that God is calling you to as His people, the people of Christ, for He has great plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

Peace,

Pastor Burt