On Wednesday we begin the season of Lent, our 40 daypreparation for the memorial of Christ’s Passion on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and for the celebration of his resurrection on Easter Sunday. The story of Christ’s death, like any story, requires time for the telling, 40 days in this case. Thestory begins on Ash Wednesday with the reminder that salvationexists only because God “made him to be sin who did not know sin”, namely Christ. Through the prophet Joel God says “rend your hearts” (2:13), and Jesus gives instruction on prayer, fasting, and works of charity (Mt 6:1-4). Salvation was won by Christ’s death on the cross, but to claim salvation one must still“deny himself and take up his cross daily” (Lk 9:23). TheLenten story unfolds with Scriptures that describe the nature of sin and the reality of it’s painful consequences. Scriptures tellalso of God’s generosity and forbearance, providing for us withthe model for our dealings with one another. The person who enters generously into the sacrificial spirit of Lent will deepen her love of God and her gratitude for his gift of salvation, and will become as it were a new creation. The theme of repentance and renewal is symbolized by the “40” days of Lent. “40”, theworking span (in the past) of human life, indicates the passing ofone generation that a new may rise, or more generally, thepassing of one state of being and the coming of a new.