The liturgical calendar is a wonderful gift that helps us build the spiritual muscle memory necessary to live through life’s great joys and deep sorrows, and to have the knowledge that our faith, our community, and God will carry us through it all. The liturgical season of Lent reminds us that God chose to live through the unspeakable horrors that life can bring, and in doing so, demonstrates God’s presence with us when we, too, find life’s challenges to be tremendous. Entering into our second Lent in the time of a Pandemic, perhaps we especially need the rhythms of reflection, quiet, and prayer that this season holds. Self-examination and repentance may take on different meanings as we examine ourselves and our world in light of our now obvious interconnectedness. As we walk this season together, we know sadness, we see heartbreak, and we hold up community.
Our tradition has always been to give up something for Lent – to take on a fast to open up space within us to know Christ anew. In some ways, it feels as if we have been on a year-long fast and anything else would be superfluous at best, or completely demoralizing at worst. We can, however, commit to a new or different spiritual practice for the season. This may bring Christ’s presence to us in a new way, and may also break the rhythm of what life has become in a way that could be helpful. The purpose of Lenten examination and repentance is, of course, to bring us to renewal and rebirth – to bring us to the joy of Easter resurrection.
This guide is meant to be a tool for you this season. We pray it assists you in preparing for, and practicing your faith through Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Blessings to you.
To Download a PDF of the Lent Devotional
Saturday, April 9, 2022
Unification in God
An excerpt from Ezekiel 37:22b-23 (NRSV) Never again shall they be two nations, and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms. They shall never again defile themselves with their idols and their detestable th...
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Friday, April 8, 2022
God is ever present in our distress
An excerpt from Psalm 18:4-7 (NRSV) The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of perdition assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called...
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Thursday, April 7, 2022
God’s everlasting covenant
An excerpt from Genesis 17:5b-7 (NRSV) I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will estab...
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Wednesday, April 6, 2022
The truth will make you free
An excerpt from John 8:31-32 (NRSV) Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ...
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Tuesday, April 5, 2022
When we complain endlessly
An excerpt from Numbers 21:5 (NRSV) The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this mis...
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Monday, April 4, 2022
Condemnation-free zone
An excerpt from 2 John 8:10-11 (NRSV) “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again....
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Saturday, April 2, 2022
Protection
An excerpt from Exodus 12:21-27 (NRSV) ...the Lord will passover that door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your house and strike you down.
Reflection from Rich Milburn, St Simon’s Episcopal Church: Ever sinc...
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Friday, April 1, 2022
Restoration
An excerpt from Psalm 126 (NRSV) When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Reflection from The Rev. Jenny Hulen,...
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Thursday, March 31, 2022
Fearless living
An excerpt from Isaiah 43:1-7 (NRSV) Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm yo...
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Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Co-creating with God
An excerpt from Luke 9:10-17 (NRSV) You give them something to eat.
Reflection from Ed Petit, St. Simon’s Episcopal Church: When scripture invites us to walk by faith and not by sight, can we do so with full...
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Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Rest as obedience pt 2
An excerpt from Leviticus 25:1-19 (NRSV) Then you shall have the trumpet sounded loud; on the tenth day of the seventh month - on the day of atonement - you shall have the trumpet sounded in all your land.And you s...
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Monday, March 28, 2022
Rest as obedience pt 1
An excerpt from Leviticus 23:26-41 (NRSV) It shall be to you a sabbath of complete rest, and you shall deny yourselves; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening you shall keep your sabbath....
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Saturday, March 26, 2022
What does God desire of me?
An excerpt from Hosea 1:6 (NRSV) For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.
Reflection from John Bicknell, Trinity Episcopal Church: What can one see ...
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Friday, March 25, 2022
The Annunciation – Responding to God’s call
An excerpt from Luke 1:38 (NRSV) Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Reflection from Ann Duggan, Trinity Episcopal Church: Readin...
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Thursday, March 24, 2022
What does God command?
An excerpt from Jeremiah 7:23-24 (NRSV) “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.”
Reflection from ...
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Wednesday, March 23, 2022
What faith do wish to “make known”?
An excerpt from Deuteronomy 4:8-9 (NRSV) But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of ...
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Tuesday, March 22, 2022
What does it mean to forgive?
An excerpt from Matthew 18:21-22 (NRSV) Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not ...
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Monday, March 21, 2022
For what do you thirst?
An excerpt from Isaiah 55:1-11 (NRSV) Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Reflection from Je...
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Saturday, March 19, 2022
What lessons are there to learn, on this Saint Joseph’s Day, from Jesus’s life with Joseph and Mary in Nazareth? An excerpt from Luke 2:41-52 (NRSV) Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother ...
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Friday, March 18, 2022
Reflect on Jesus’s Parable
An excerpt from Matthew 21:33–43 (NRSV) The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.
Reflection from Hall Healy, The Chu...
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Thursday, March 17, 2022
Delighting in God’s Ways and Being Nourished by Grace
An excerpt from Psalm 1 (NRSV) Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
Their d...
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Wednesday, March 16, 2022
God’s Intentions for Our Lives
An excerpt from Jeremiah 18:1–11, 18–20 (NRSV) Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Reflection from Joyce Newcomb, The Church of St. Elisabeth: I...
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Tuesday, March 15, 2022
The Everyday Practice of Goodness
An excerpt from Isaiah 1:2–4,16–20 (NRSV) Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the ...
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Monday, March 14, 2022
Divine Mercy and Human Mercy
An excerpt from Luke 6:27–38 (NRSV) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Reflection from Pete Rossiter, The Church of St. Elisabeth: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”This s...
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Saturday, March 12, 2022
Loving our enemies
An excerpt from Matthew 5:44-45 (NRSV) Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
Reflection from Jeffrey Broms, St. Lawrence Episcopal Church: ...
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Friday, March 11, 2022
Reconciliation
An excerpt from Matthew 5:23-24 (NRSV) So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconci...
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Thursday, March 10, 2022
Grace of forgiveness
An excerpt from Matthew 7:7 (NRSV) Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Reflection from BJ Jones, St. Lawrence Episcopal Church: I know with ...
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Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Repentance and Renewal
An excerpt from Psalm 51:11 (NRSV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Reflection from Laura Ruiz, St. Lawrence Episcopal Church: Cleanse and renewal. The kind only God can...
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Tuesday, March 8, 2022
God’s faithfulness
An excerpt from Isaiah 55:10-11 (NRSV) For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread...
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Monday, March 7, 2022
Holiness
An excerpt from Leviticus 19:2 (NRSV) You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
Reflection from Betty Wooddy, St. Lawrence Episcopal Church: In my younger years I understood “be holy” as a command for individu...
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Saturday, March 5, 2022
What needs healing?
An excerpt from Luke 5:12 (NRSV) They asked him, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Take it up and walk”?’
Reflection from Claire Eskar, Trinity Episcopal Church: If we’re honest with ourselves, none of ...
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Friday, March 4, 2022
What sort of fast will this Lent be for you?
An excerpt from Isaiah 58: 1-9 (NRSV) Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a ...
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Thursday, March 3, 2022
Following Jesus
An excerpt from Luke 9:23 (NRSV) If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Reflection from Mary Haas, St. Lawrence Episcopal Church: What does it mean...
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March 2, 2022
ASH WEDNESDAY – God’s steadfast love
An excerpt from Joel 2:12-13 (NRSV) Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to th...
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