This past week, Christians began the six-week vigil called
Lent. Many Christians commence this
introspective time with the putting on of ashes to be reminded, they came from
dust and to dust they shall return.
Lent is much like the ten-day period between Rosh Hashana
and Yom Kippur. It is a time to reflect on how you have lived your life during the
previous year, for what and from whom you need to seek forgiveness. Among Jews there is a tradition to not seek
God’s forgiveness until you have asked forgiveness of anyone you have hurt
during the past year. So, the Lenten
weeks are similar, at least in emphasis, to the Jewish holy days.
But there are differences.
First and foremost, Jews do not put ashes on their foreheads. Remembering the ashes of the Holocaust gives
Jews a sufficient reminder about the reality of death and none more so than the
ashes.
For some Christians, the cross is the culmination of lent. They
think the suffering and death of Jesus is the highlight. But
that is not so. The killing of Jesus is
an absurdity and a scandal. No amount of theological glorification can make the
cross beautiful or meaningful. For Christians, Lent is the season that leads
to Easter, that moment when God declares, life not death, will have the last
word.
As for Jews, salvation never comes through death.
For Jews, so called “salvation”, being saved from the power
of sin, death and evil can only happen when we do everything we can to resist
the power of sin, death and evil. Whatever
God and his messiahs are doing, we shall leave to them.
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