Okay, so according to Wikipedia, which we all know has the highest level of fact checking and is NEVER wrong, Lent is celebrated to emulate the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the desert while being tempted by the Devil before he began his public ministry.
Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter.
I have to admit, Jew and Gentile Readers Both, as a child, I believed it was to symbolize the forty day Noah spent on the ark. Really, I’ve been wrong for thirty years. But it’s not really my fault, the number 40 has always had special spiritual significance regarding preparation.
From catholiceducation.org - they do a much better job of sussing all this out then I ever could…it’s easy to see how a child could become confused.
On Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Ten Commandments, “Moses stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, without eating any food or drinking any water” (Ex 34:28). Elijah walked “40 days and 40 nights” to the mountain of the Lord, Mount Horeb (another name for Sinai) (I Kgs 19:8). Most importantly, Jesus fasted and prayed for “40 days and 40 nights” in the desert before He began His public ministry (Mt 4:2).
I wonder what else I’ve been wrong about?
didn’t it take moses 40 YEARS to get out of the desert?
Also…The Buddha lasted longer…he went through 49 days of temptation before achieving enlightenment….
@ Donna –
40 years to get out of the desert, yes. but 40 DAYS to get the ten commandments from God…