Lent mirrors Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness

“The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:9)

This is how Holy Week begins. Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Crowds gathered from all over — Jewish pilgrims — to celebrate what God can do. Passover, a “Freedom Festival,” a time for people to get away, go to the big city, reconnect with family, enjoy a big meal together, and lean into the cry, “Hosanna!” Translated, “Save, we pray!”

We like parades. We like parties. We love cheering on the hero, even the underdog if there is a chance they will actually win. “Hosanna!,” even if it is a cry for help, still sounds celebratory. The songs including hosanna, still tend to be written in a major key. It isn’t a huge leap to shift to “Hallelujah! Praise be to God!” the next Sunday. Easter, when God proves there was nothing to worry about during the week in between.

So, why spend time in between? Why did our ancestors in the faith add 40 days, minus Sundays, to spend even more time examining all the things that lead us to moments of crucifixion? Why the five weeks of minor key? Why ashes smudged on our foreheads? Why all the self examination and dwelling on the conflict: the arguments, the broken systems, the oppressive occupation by empire, the torn allegiances, the betrayal, the temptation, the denial, the lies, the fear, anger, greed, false charges, trial, and capital punishment?

The church season of Lent invites us into all of this, every year. A season, like spring cleaning, when we can return to God and prepare a clean canvas.

These 40 days, mirror Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by the devil. Time to enter into Jesus’ story more fully, so we can see how we keep repeating these events in our own story. Forty days to reflect, confess, and let God take our failings and our fears, the dust and ashes of who we are and mix it with God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. Forty days of repentance — which means turning around — turning to God, who can and will do remarkable things with earthly stuff, like us.

But, we can’t get there, we cannot learn and grow and be transformed by God’s grace if we refuse to look at what continues to cause the suffering, the injustices, and death of our time.

In our story, we need to ask ourselves tough questions. What do we fear? Whom to we trust and truly follow? Will we risk entering Jesus’ whole story and the injustices he chose to face? Will we continue with business as usual or will we risk questioning the powers that be?

We need to find out what we are truly passionate about. Yes, Lent takes us into the valley of the shadow of death, so we can leave our regrets, laments, and sins there and learn to trust more and more fully, God’s promise. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

Jesus held to this promise all the way to the cross. His passion was something we could not accept or follow. We crucified him for it. But, hear this, “God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” There is more to God’s story. “Hosanna! Save, we pray!”

Lori Morton is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint. She can be reached at 526 S. Olive Ave., or 208-263-2048.