Following the scriptural pattern, we are in the last week of this 40 day Paschal season. The question that is often asked, is what is the significance of 40 days being used throughout scripture? Well, without getting into biblical numerology (which if I am being honest is a little beyond me), this time stamp of 40 days is the actualisation of a completed act or event that is presented symbolically, yet in the context of reality.
Whether it be Noah in the Ark, or Moses on mount Sinai, or the Lord fasting in the wilderness (and many more examples), this 40 day period actualises His saving, correcting, illumining, and redeeming work for humanity; and although 40 days might be more symbolic in its presentation, it nonetheless expresses something that is anything by symbolic – time. Although Divine is timeless, eternal and complete, the Lord condescends to the limits of time, that we might participate in the timelessness of the Kingdom of Heaven – the actualisation of His saving victory over sin and death. It is a paradox (like many things in our faith), that St. Paul compels us to consider; “Behold, now is the acceptable time” -that 24hr cycle we experience – “behold, now is the day of salvation” -the timelessness of God’s victory and presence that is offered to us to not only consider, but participate in. (2 Cor. 2:6)
For almost 40 days, we have been given this “acceptable time” in which the proclamation of “Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!” has loudly sounded; and indeed the Lord’s Pascha is a timeless and eternal victory that is shared with us (every Sunday is a little Pascha). Yet this season ends with His glorious Ascension – actualising the completion of God’s redemptive work (thus the 40 days). What now lies before us is the opportunity to enter into that redemptive work and the eternity of the Lord’s love – the “day of salvation” in the feast of the Ascension and our anticipation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
When the Lord ascends to heaven (Mk. 16:19, Lk. 24:50-53, Act. 1:9-11) humanity (flesh and blood) is restored and glorified in the Kingdom of heaven, and that which is temporal (our nature), is reconciled as eternal and timeless. Truly we witness the actualisation of Lord’s saving work as witnessed in time, and those 40 days of light and life -experienced in time -now stretch into eternity. But we know the story doesn’t end there for us; for on that “last day, that great day of the feast” (Jn. 7:37) the day of Pentecost, we who are rooted in time, are blessed to sanctify it, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
For as the Lord says “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth” (Jn. 14:12-17). Truly, these 40 days of light and life, by God’s grace can feel like eternity.
Nice summary, Father Gregory. I like the comment on how God enters and consecrates our human time and space – very incarnational!
I would add that in Old Testament numerology, the number forty means “the amount of time that is need to complete the task”. Perhaps this is why we need “40 winks” to have a decent nap!
There is also a universal element to the number: four (four directions, four winds, four sides to a square (or altar)) times ten (ten fingers, our decimal and counting systems, the number of fullness of the Gentiles).
An examination of the use of the number forty in scripture would make an interesting thesis or dissertation topic.
Great job!
Love in Christ,
Esther