Slowing Down | Lenten Reader 2025 by Evangelical Covenant Church

Lenten Reader 2025

Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada

Strathmore, Alberta

EDITORS

Hanne Pihowich & Rob Peterson

DESIGN + LAYOUT

Erikka Hedberg

ARTWORK

Jessica Hagen

Introduction

“Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Distraction may be one of the most significant barriers to knowing God in the depths of our hearts. Distractions abound everywhere we live and work. Our culture, our phones, our work and our lives at home are filled with numerous distractions. They invite us to waste our time on idle matters, the latest opinions or memes, offering us reprieve from our busy lives. Have you ever spoken the words, “I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted lately!” to someone you love?

Distractions, fueled by busyness, erode our ability to be attentive to what is most important and what is most important as disciples of Jesus is to know with increasing measure that our life in Christ is intertwined and sustained by Christ Himself. Our life is meant to be lived attentively to Christ’s loving and sustaining presence. This is in part what He means when He invites His friends to come to Him to find rest - He’s inviting His disciples to a focused and attentive cultivation of life with Him, a relationship that results in peace and rest even in the midst of hundreds of distractions. Such attentiveness is not easy to cultivate, however.

This year’s Lenten Reader is an invitation to become more attentive to the life of Christ and the ways that He is with us in our daily lives. Lent is a long-practiced way of intentionally opening our hearts to renewal; it is a 40-day journey based on the life of Christ that invites us to daily turn our attention to who Christ is, what He has to say, and how His wisdom and love touch and transform our deepest desires. The central assumption of a lenten journey is that spiritual vibrancy needs to be nurtured because of the ways in which our lives and experiences distract from the beautiful truth that Christ is with us at every turn and every moment!

Our prayer for the Lenten Reader this year is that God will use it to invite us to slow down and become much more attentive to Jesus Chirst and His incredible life, power, healing and love. May God, by His Spirit, prepare us over these 40 days to celebrate Easter 2025 with renewed hope and joy!

Lenten Reader Outline:

• Begins with Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025

• Daily Scripture Readings and Reflections based on the Life of Christ from Matthew

• Weekly Prayer on a Psalm

• Weekly Prayer of Examen

Peace on the journey,

Lenten Reader Team:

Rob Peterson

Hanne Pihowich

Erikka Hedberg

Take a moment to be still.

PRAYER | LECTIO DIVINA

Tell God that you are listening.

Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer and then sit in silence for a moment.

Read the text again. Pay attention to a word, phrase, or theme that seems to stand out or grabs your attention. Trust that this is a nudge from the Holy Spirit. Be silent with the word, phrase, or theme. Resist the desire to study the text.

Read the text a final time. What does the word, phrase, or theme invite you to pray? What about your word, phrase, or theme seems like God’s invitation to you today? Take a few moments to talk with God about your word, phrase or theme. Let God know that you are grateful for your time of prayer and interaction.

This type of reading and prayer has been called Lectio Divina or “divine reading” If this is an unfamiliar practice for you, know that it can take some time to get used to reading and praying scripture this way. We are used to analyzing and mastering a passage from the bible, but this way of prayerful reading invites us to meditate on God’s word with the hope that the Holy Spirit guides us into an encounter with God who speaks to our hearts and life situations.

SECOND

Matthew 3:13-17

SAM WILLIAMS | ETOBICOKE, ON

In his book Under the Unpredictable Plant, the late pastor and theologian Eugene Peterson, tells his story of growing up in farmland in Montana. As a five-year-old, he used to walk to his backyard and stand by the barbed wire fence that separated his family’s property from that of a Norwegian farmer named Leonard Storm. He watched Mr. Storm drive his big green John Deere tractor back and forth across the field. If Peterson wanted anything in his life as a five-year-old boy, he wanted a ride on that big green John Deere Tractor.

One day, when Mr. Storm was around 100 yards away from the fence, he brought the tractor to a sudden stop. He stood up from the seat and began to wave his arms and shout something at little Peterson. Peterson writes, “I have never seen anyone use gestures like that. He looked mean and angry…He was yelling at me, but the wind was blowing against him, and I couldn’t hear anything. I knew that I was probably where I shouldn’t be. Five-year-old boys often are. I turned and left. I hadn’t felt I was doing anything wrong – I was only watching from what I thought was a safe distance and wishing that someday, somehow, I could get to ride that tractor. But I went home feeling rejected, rebuked.”

That Sunday, Mr. Storm came over to Peterson after church and asked, “Son, why didn’t you come out in the field on Thursday and ride the tractor with me? I was waving at you to come. Why did you leave?”

Peterson had left because he thought the waving motion was meant to restrict him and chase him away. Peterson recalled this incident later in his life and considered it a failure of imagination. It prevented him from enjoying a ride on the tractor. He said, “I interpreted the large, generous actions of the farmer through the cramped, confined experience of a five-year-old. And so, of course, I misinterpreted.”

Our imagination is limited, isn’t it? Matthew tells us that John the Baptist was a voice in the wilderness calling people to repent from their sins and people came to him from “Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan” (Matthew 3:5). John said to the people, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry” (v. 11). According to John, the one who comes after him will separate the chaff from the grain, “gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (v. 12). John is eagerly waiting for the one who will fulfill his expectations.

Shattering all expectations, Jesus comes to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. Jesus who seems to be identifying Himself with the people who are facing judgement and needing to repent, rather than with a God who judges evil, baffled John. John asks a question that we find ourselves asking, “and do you come to me?” How can someone like him baptize “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus responded, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (v. 15).

As one of my theologian friends rightly puts it, “God is always moving towards us.” Sometimes, we interpret the large, generous actions of God through our cramped and confined experiences and feel unqualified and rejected and rebuked. Contrary to our imaginations, God is not grumpy, cold and distant but is always coming to us in loving ways, more than we can ask or imagine. He is inviting us to participate in His life. May we let it be so now!

May we be attentive and open to our generous God who is always moving towards us and is working in ways, immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Amen!

Matthew 4:1-11

SHANNON JOHNSON FRIESEN | STEINBACH, MB

Read Matthew 4:1-11.

This is meant to be read slowly or aloud, friends. With pauses, to let the words sink in.

He was in the wilderness and He was hungry. It had been 40 days and 40 nights of braving the desert elements, of fasting and solitude. Of course He was hungry. And weakened, stretched thin, vulnerable to temptation. Who wouldn’t be? And the tempter comes to Him and does what the devil does. Calls His identity into question and twists God’s word. “If you are the Son of God, his Beloved, prove it. Test it. Make bread out of stones. Throw yourself off the temple. Or just take power now and do everything you want to do with it now.” He baits Him, calls God’s word into question, God’s trustworthiness, and tries to get Him to listen to his voice instead of God’s.

Jesus doesn’t take the bait. In His weakened state, His great vulnerability, He counters the lie that says “You need these things to be okay: you need proof of your power, divinity, and authority, proof that you’re God’s beloved Son.” Jesus counters the lie with God’s word.

Jesus believed the words God had spoken through Moses to Israel long before He was born - they were His response to the temptations. He also believed the words God had spoken over Him as He’d stood in the river 40 days before. God’s words anchored Him.

You wonder which other words echoed in His head that day. Maybe God saying “I am with you,” to any number of people in the Old Testament or to the nations of Israel and Judah. Bottom line: Jesus knew He wasn’t alone in the wilderness. He knew God was with Him because He believed what God had said. Jesus trusted God’s words like a builder trusts a 2x12 board between two high walls. He didn’t need to prove anything, to Himself or anyone else, because He trusted God’s words. We can too.

We tend to carry these false beliefs that get in the way, that keep us stuck, that make us afraid, that disrupt our relationships with one another, with God, and even with ourselves. Like Israel in the wilderness we get distracted or disoriented by our circumstances and start to believe lies about ourselves and about God. Things like I’m unseen, I’m alone, or I’m not loved.

Friends, when we are tempted to believe these lies, let’s choose to trust God’s words. Let’s remember them like Jesus did, and remember that what God named over Jesus in that river, He names over us. We too are God’s beloved and not alone - even in the wilderness. We can trust him.

Lord, help me trust Your words. Help me learn to trust that You are always with me and that I am seen and known and loved by You, my Creator. And let me find freedom in that.

Prayer of Examen

Taking some time each week to prayerfully reflect back on what happened to us, both the good and challenging, has the benefit of improving our ability to discern how God has been with us through the week. Slowing down in this way strengthens our attentiveness muscles.

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths. Rest in God’s presence.

Ask God to guide your reflection in prayer in these moments. Ask God for the grace to be aware of his work in you this past week.

Reflect on the past week. Begin with Sunday and move through the week in your imagination. Linger on anything that brought you joy, made you smile, encouraged you, or simply made life a little better.

Thank God for these moments of gladness and goodness. Imagine God rejoicing with you.

As you reflect on your week again, pause on any difficult or challenging times. Also, consider how you have missed the mark. What have you done or left undone that requires repentance?

Ask God for his mercy for sin and comfort for your struggle. Imagine God pouring out his love over you.

Pray that God would show you how to respond to what you have noticed, the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask God for his help in responding to his invitation.

Share with God any other thoughts or reflections.

Amen.

“This is the Sound”

Take some time to sit with the painting below. What do you notice? How do you feel as you take in this piece of art? Is there anything that you hear God speaking to you in this moment?

Matthew 4:17-22

KATY RAYNER | NORQUAY, SK

Amidst the dialogue, mysterious parables, and long discourses that the gospel writers record in their accounts of the Lord Jesus, the calling of the first disciples in Matthew 4 stands out as a brief yet profound exchange between Jesus and two pairs of brothers.

Jesus’ mission has begun as He announces that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near (v. 17). The One whom the scriptures foretold, the Messiah whose promised arrival was anticipated for generations, who appears like the hopeful dawn to those living in the land of the shadow of death… He and His kingdom have finally come. Immediately we are challenged with the question: so now what?

How will we respond? Jesus announces that firstly we respond with repentance. We turn and come near to God as His kingdom has come near to us. In verses 18-22, we see this response fleshed out. Do you ever wonder if Jesus said anything else to these brothers? Or was the mere sight of the Lord so enticing that all it took was a simple invitation for them to follow Him? This exchange is so brief, so seemingly simple. Jesus ‘sees’ them, he calls out “Come, follow me”, and then immediately the men leave their nets and follow Him. What did the disciples feel in this moment that led them to instantly abandon not only their nets but their jobs, their livelihoods, even their families? We learn much about Jesus’ call on our lives in these six short verses. Note that He did not call the disciples to an aimless journey or an impossible task. Instead, He calls these fishermen to become “fishers of people”. He calls them to surrender all they have, and all that they are, to be a part of his redemptive kingdom work. It is for this purpose that Jesus actively seeks us out wherever we are, even amidst the responsibilities and distractions that tether us to our past and our circumstances. Out of our mundane and busy lives He calls us to a single-minded mission: “follow me”. His call requires something from us, though. In heeding it, we will not be left the same. We will surely learn what sacrifice means. But when we accept His invitation and follow our Lord wherever He goes, we will also find that His call on our lives is good. His call is towards His good and beautiful kingdom.

Lord Jesus, help us to hear You calling us into a deeper life with you. Help us to trust in Your good purposes and give us strength to surrender our lives to You. Amen.

Matthew 5:1-12

JON DREBERT | BRETON, AB

Blessed - really?

Jesus is speaking in polarities, a tension that most of us find uncomfortable. In hardship and difficulty, you are blessed. Regardless if you and I acknowledge the blessing or not, it is there! I would say it’s inescapable except that’s not entirely true either!

Several years ago, I told a friend she was living the dream - the trouble was it didn’t feel so dreamy. The idea she had in her mind and what she was living was not the same thing. Sure, technically all the pieces of her dream were there but in that season it was really hard and didn’t feel like the dream. I think we have all been there.

We dreamed of having a family and yet there are days when it is anything but dreamy. We dreamed about success in our careers and yet it is full of burdens.

At other times our dreams don’t come together at all and it’s just hard. No joy, just sorrow, difficulty and struggle.

I have spent much of my life concerned about experiencing the blessings as I had designed in my imagination - in my dreams! Since I was so focused on that particular blessing I stopped appreciating the many other blessings right before me.

In our text, Jesus saw the crowds gathering and began teaching His disciples. I notice that Jesus is talking about others, perhaps pointing to the crowd gathering, but in verse 11 He leans in and says blessed are you! He replaces the word ‘those’ with ‘you’. It’s not others, it’s you - you are blessed.

Maybe it’s just me but I find it a lot easier to see how God is blessing others, even amid their hardship. It’s much more difficult to see the blessings He’s offered me amid my hardship. Jesus is reminding the disciples they are blessed.

But what is that blessing? Certainly, we can point to the presence of God as the ultimate blessing but such an answer cuts short the creative wonder of a God who blesses beyond what we can dream or imagine. The blessings are there. Can you see it?

Worry tends to rob me of blessings. It makes me a victim of things that have not yet happened and many things that never do happen. I am not an expert in emotion but I do think of worry and curiosity as the same emotion. They are experienced with two different lenses and thus one is negative and the other positive. Curiosity within hardship is difficult, but I think it will allow you to see the blessings.

Imagine with me. You are sitting on the mountainside and have just heard Jesus’ words, “You are blessed.” The group becomes silent and you have an opportunity to ask Him a question. Go ahead, He wants you to ask.

Lord, teach me to use a different lens, to be curious about the blessings amid the hardships of life! Thank you for your goodness! Amen.

Take a moment to be still.

PRAYER | LECTIO DIVINA

Tell God that you are listening.

Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer and then sit in silence for a moment.

Matthew 6:5-15

CHARIS CHU | SARNIA, ON

For many years I found prayer challenging. Growing up in the church, it was instilled in me that God loves hearing my prayer because it is the best way to communicate with Him. I yearned for a deeper connection with the Father, and yet when I tried to talk to Him it felt like a one-sided conversation. Several years ago, I was introduced to the practice of silence and solitude and it has completely transformed my prayer life. Interestingly, my experience with this practice also offered a new perspective when I read this familiar text, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not babble like pagans… for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v. 6-8). I used to interpret these verses quite literally and viewed them simply as a list of do’s and don’ts for prayer. But when reading it now, it dawned on me that maybe Jesus was sharing His best kept prayer practice – the secret to His intimate relationship with God the Father, with His disciples: find a place with no distraction, close the door, and shut out the noise from the busyness of your daily life. When God sees that you have made space for Him and are present to Him, He will reward you with His presence. Do not be tempted to fill the silence with countless words, for God already knows what you need. Rather, embrace the stillness and simply enjoy being with Him.

It is evident that Jesus took priority in spending time alone with God the Father in solitary places (Luke 5:16, Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23), and I sense that He is inviting us to do the same. I understand that finding time and space for silence and solitude is a challenge in our over-busy modern lives, and that’s without mentioning the general discomfort that most feel simply being quiet with their own thoughts. But from my experience, as I’ve gradually become more acquainted with silence and solitude, I have found it no longer to be awkward but rather a place of enjoyment and an encounter with God. When my heart could finally be still, God revealed Himself to me and I recognized Him. It was the most profound feeling! Friends, I think it is so worth it, and I pray that you could experience that too.

Father, my heart longs for You. Help me to be still and listen to You, feel Your embrace, and rest in Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Matthew 6:25-34

MICHEL NDIOM | SURREY, BC

This text is a profound passage within the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus addresses concerns about anxiety and the cares of life. One of the most striking characteristics of Jesus in this passage is His invitation to believers to trust in God’s provision. As His Followers who live in a world that is full of different types of challenges - such as diseases, wars, natural disasters, and financial instability - there is a tendency to get caught up in the cares of this world, which chokes the Word in us making it unfruitful in our lives. We start to worry about our material needs - food, drink, and clothing with the world economy constantly declining and in recession.

In this passage, Jesus invites us to reassess our priorities—”But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” (v. 33). This shift in focus allows us to let go of anxiety about the future and material concerns. It will enable us to orient our lives around God’s kingdom and help us to cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. He highlights the fact that by worrying, we act like the Gentiles (v. 32) and behave as if we don’t have a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for us, having made all provisions available to us according to His will.

Jesus reframes worry as counterproductive and reassures us of God’s constant care and attention in moments of uncertainty or hardship. Jesus encourages us to remember how deeply we are cared for. Secondly, Jesus says, “do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (v. 34). God will give us the grace that we need for tomorrow, but today. Don’t ask God for today’s grace to be used up for tomorrow’s problems.

Dear Lord, may we learn to cast all our cares upon You, for You care for us. Teach us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, that we will make our request known to You; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our minds through Christ Jesus”. (1 Peter 5:7),(Phi 4:6-7).

Prayer of Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths. Rest in God’s presence.

Ask God to guide your reflection in prayer in these moments. Ask God for the grace to be aware of his work in you this past week.

Thank God for these moments of gladness and goodness. Imagine God rejoicing with you.

As you reflect on your week again, pause on any difficult or challenging times. Also, consider how you have missed the mark. What have you done or left undone that requires repentance?

Ask God for his mercy for sin and comfort for your struggle. Imagine God pouring out his love over you.

Pray that God would show you how to respond to what you have noticed, the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask God for his help in responding to his invitation.

Share with God any other thoughts or reflections.

Amen.

“Wide

As Your Goodness”

Take some time to sit with the painting below. What do you notice? How do you feel as you take in this piece of art? Is there anything that you hear God speaking to you in this moment?

Matthew 7:15-23

ERIC HEDBERG | SURREY, BC

We live in a time that asks us to make decisions constantly. So many decisions! The decision that always seems to be a challenge for me and my wife is what to eat. We wrestle with balancing cost, nutrition, taste, convenience, and of course what we want at any given moment. Any of those things may take priority depending on the day or meal, or even who we most recently talk to may suggest how we prioritize any of those things. And that’s just food! We have voices speaking to us constantly about all of the decisions we have to make in life, pulling us one way or the other, regarding seemingly unimportant things like toothpastes or travel cup brands, and certainly regarding vitally important things like our values, ethics, and who we worship.

Jesus and His disciples lived in a challenging world as well. And in this passage, Jesus recognizes just how many directions His disciples are being pulled. They are trying to discern between true and false prophets, and even true and false disciples. They are trying to discern who to listen to, who to follow, and who really is pointing them towards the true, living God.

When Jesus speaks about fruit being the way to recognize true prophets, we have to remember that just a couple chapters before, just before Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount, he has been travelling around the Galilee region preaching, healing, and casting out demons. Jesus has been showing His disciples the fruit that comes from following Him. It would be fresh in their minds. When we spend time with Jesus, we experience the fruit of life with Him; fruits of peace, joy, hope, wholeness, faithfulness, and love. In this season of Lent, we are invited to really dwell in our relationship with Jesus, and to pay attention to the fruit of that relationship in our lives. It is there. It is all around us. May we pay attention and know the Messiah who has come for us.

Loving God, in this season of Lent, help us to stop listening to the voices in our lives that bear no fruit. Help us to listen only to your Son, our Saviour, our Lord, our Teacher, Jesus, recognizing that in following Him we will experience the fruit of life with You God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Matthew 7:24-29

LYNDSEY WATSON | SERVE GLOBAL PARTNER: COVENANT KIDS CONGO

Life often feels like a whirlwind - responsibilities pile up, unexpected hardships arise, and we struggle to keep up. In Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus acknowledges that the storms will come, but He reminds us that those who listen and act on His words - those who trust Him - will stand firm, like a house built on rock.

The challenge is that in the chaos of life, we are often too hurried or distracted to notice, to remember where we stand. Instead of slowing down to root myself in Christ, I try to manage life on my own strength. I know I’m not alone in that. But, Jesus calls us to something different. He invites us to build our foundation on Him. And this kind of foundation takes time. It requires attentiveness – an intentional slowing down – to notice where and how He is present.

Attentiveness is the action of paying close attention to something. If we don’t pause and look down and see where we are standing, we can easily forget that Christ is already here – sustaining us, strengthening us, and offering His peace even in turbulent times… right where we are. If we’re not intentional, we might miss it.

I think about the moments when I feel most overwhelmed. When my to-do list seems endless, when unexpected difficulties arise, or when I feel like I’m running on empty. In those moments, I often try to hold everything together on my own. I rush from one thing to the next, thinking I can just push through, things will get better. But instead of finding peace, I find myself exhausted, anxious, and unsteady. I’ve been building on sand.

Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up – it means choosing what is lasting over what is temporary, what is solid over what is shifting. It means recognizing that we don’t have to hold everything together – Christ already is.

What are you striving for – physically or spiritually? Are there areas of your life that need a more intentional foundation? Have you been rushing instead of paying attention? Jesus is not in a hurry. He invites us to slow down, to listen, and to build our lives on a firm foundation – trust in Him.

Jesus, in the busyness and storms of life, help me to slow down and be attentive to Your presence. Teach me to build my life on the firm foundation of Your truth, trusting that you are holding all things together. Strengthen my faith so that I may stand firm in you, no matter what comes my way. Amen.

Take a moment to be still.

PRAYER | LECTIO DIVINA

Tell God that you are listening.

Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer and then sit in silence for a moment.

Matthew 8:1-17

MARC VANDERSLUYS | MINNEDOSA, MB

No sooner has Jesus come down from giving His most famous ethical-spiritual teaching in the Sermon on the Mount than He’s confronted with very earthy, physical needs. The prophecy quoted at the end of the passage is not a metaphor for only spiritual things: Jesus is eagerly willing to heal physical disease and illness. The leper isn’t sure what Jesus will do for him, but knows that if He is willing, Jesus can heal him. “I am willing,” Jesus immediately says. Jesus is ready to go with the Roman centurion to heal his servant. And He heals Peter’s mother-in-law without discussion.

Jesus is also indiscriminately willing to heal. These three people are all outsiders in Jewish culture, but Jesus is no respecter of persons. The leper was a religious/social outcast, unclean and untouchable (whom Jesus touches!); the centurion was a representative of Rome, the Gentile empire occupying Israel and subjecting its people; Peter’s mother-inlaw is, as a woman, a second-class person. And in healing them, Jesus restores the leper to life among God’s people and welcomes a Gentile and a woman into that same fold, acknowledging their value in God’s eyes.

It all forms a subtle but clear picture of the holistic nature of Jesus’ ministry. The spiritual, ethical, physical, social, relational, religious, and so on are all part of Jesus’ healing work. Every aspect of our lives matters to Jesus—our souls, our minds, our hearts, our bodies. There is great comfort and hope in this. Jesus didn’t heal everyone, of course, but these healings point us to the future fulfillment of the kingdom when all of creation and all that makes us human will be healed and renewed and play a part in eternity.

In the meantime, we are invited to follow Jesus into His way of life. The healing that Jesus brings is for all people, for all nations, and for all creation, and it touches every aspect of our lives. Jesus’ indiscriminate and eager compassion is the kind of light that needs to shine in the world in our time. May that light shine through us.

Compassionate and gracious God, help me, in the strength of your Spirit and in imitation of Jesus’ eagerly and indiscriminately willing care for me, to be a willing servant to those around me and a light of compassion and welcome wherever I go. Amen.

Matthew 9:9-13

JENN ASPILLA | BRAMPTON, ON

When my kids were younger, they often drew me pictures—colourful scribbles and squiggles splashed across the page. Wide-eyed, they would eagerly wait for my reaction. I’d smile and tell them how much I loved their artwork, not because of its perfection but because it came from them—the children I love.

One day, my daughter decided to test my artistic interpretation abilities. “Do you know what it is?” she asked. Uh oh. I squinted, trying to make sense of the seemingly random conglomeration of shapes and lines in front of me. “Is it a cat?” I guessed hesitantly.

“Close enough!” she beamed. “It’s a lion!”

She excitedly described the details that her imagination saw—details invisible to my grown-up eyes. That moment reminded me how often we fail to see things or people as they truly are. Sometimes, we must slow down to see what God sees when He looks at us.

Ephesians 2:10 shows us how God views us when we are described as “God’s masterpiece.” God is the master artist. Who better to help us understand a piece of art’s meaning, worth, and value than its creator?

In Matthew 9:9-13, we glimpse Jesus’ perspective as He calls Matthew to follow Him. Verse nine says Jesus “saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.” He saw Matthew— really saw him. Others passed by with judgment or indifference since we know tax Collectors were viewed as sinners against God and betrayers of their people. Jesus looked with mercy as He called Matthew to follow Him.

Matthew had done nothing to earn Jesus’ invitation. Many—like the Pharisees—could list reasons why Matthew was unworthy and they were more deserving. Jesus invites them and us to understand that He desires to show mercy. His eyes of love are drawn to needy recipients of His grace. When we don’t recognize that we need this mercy, we can stand in judgment of those to whom God freely gives it. We can become falsely reliant on our works and ways to reach God, missing that God is actually reaching out to us. Let us slow down long enough to become aware of the areas of our lives God is especially attentive to. Where do I need His healing, His love and mercy? How can I become more aware of how I need Him to change my perspective on those around me?

God, help me slow down and notice Your merciful gaze upon me. Give me eyes of compassion to see myself and those around me as You do.

Prayer of Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths. Rest in God’s presence.

Ask God to guide your reflection in prayer in these moments. Ask God for the grace to be aware of his work in you this past week.

Thank God for these moments of gladness and goodness. Imagine God rejoicing with you.

As you reflect on your week again, pause on any difficult or challenging times. Also, consider how you have missed the mark. What have you done or left undone that requires repentance?

Ask God for his mercy for sin and comfort for your struggle. Imagine God pouring out his love over you.

Pray that God would show you how to respond to what you have noticed, the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask God for his help in responding to his invitation.

Share with God any other thoughts or reflections.

Amen.

“Your Mercy Follows Me”

Take some time to sit with the painting below. What do you notice? How do you feel as you take in this piece of art? Is there anything that you hear God speaking to you in this moment?

Trust.

Matthew 10:1-20

KRISTEN MITCHELL | ERICKSON, BC

It’s such a warm-sounding word.

In Matthew 10:1-20, Jesus sends His apostles to the lost sheep of Israel with a specific command:

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey, or extra shirt, sandals, or staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.” (Matthew 10:9-11)

What an act of faithfulness is being asked—sleeping in strangers’ homes with no resources, no money, and not even a walking stick.

Here, we see Jesus’ deep confidence in the mission, trusting that His followers will step out, having witnessed His own example of trusting the Father.

In return, will the disciples be rewarded with comfort and wealth?

“Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On my account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:17-20)

What a daunting task—to trust in the Father and follow Jesus’ leadership—when the disciples are promised only the authority to heal and cast out spirits, and the assurance that the Spirit will speak through them.

But how great the joy in knowing that God is in control!

Still, I fail again and again, reaching for my own walking stick and a bag of silver.

What might it look like in our lives if we truly trusted only in Jesus’ leadership? Could we rest in that belief, assured that Jesus has everything under his control?

Lord, help us to trust in Your word and in Your commands. I long to rest in Your hands, knowing that Your perfect purpose is for my good and my growth. Thank you for being a Father who cares about the sandals on my feet and the words on my lips.

Matthew 11:1-19

TRACY ASHLEY | BALFOUR, BC

In our passage today we see the words of Jesus directed yet again to explaining the current circumstance to those around Him. The life of Jesus and, in this case, the life of John the Baptist, were shrouded in mystery to the world. Even those closest to the two men did not understand who they were or what their purpose on Earth was to be.

You see, the trick of this being human business, of being born into the world and living in a particular culture, is that our minds, hearts, and very beings are inundated with the ways of men (women). We move and live and breathe the culture we are a part of. Sometimes this can be a beautiful thing. But very often it means we miss out on the “Kingdom Come”. When we keep pace with our culture, we miss Jesus in front of our very eyes.

It wasn’t different in the time of Jesus’, and it remains true today. The people Jesus addresses in Matthew 11 had the actual form of Jesus in front of them. They had seen John in the desert. There was tangible evidence and yet it remained invisible. They were literally blinded to the truth. Thank goodness those in this story had the words of Christ to help open their eyes.

So, the question is, how then do we see Jesus in our day? He isn’t physically here to explain everything to us. Friends, we must make time to listen to the helper he sent. In the book of John, Jesus refers to an Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, who will testify about Christ himself.

It is true that our lives often demand much of us. We have to work, clean house, drive kids to endless sports events, entertain friends, workout, attend church, and on and on. Our lives are capital ‘F’ full. If we want to see Jesus in our day, follow Him with our lives, and join in the “Kingdom Come”, then we need to pause (regularly!) and attend to His Advocate. Listen to the Spirit, read the Bible, pray, fast, escape to the wilderness, sing and dance— these things will draw us into His way and away from the hustle and bustle of our culture.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your “Kingdom Come”. Thank You for preparing a way for us. Give us the wisdom to pause and commune with You that we might help usher more of You into this world.

Take a moment to be still.

PRAYER | LECTIO DIVINA

Tell God that you are listening.

Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer and then sit in silence for a moment.

Matthew 11:25-30

ROB PETERSON | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

The text for prayerful reflection today is one of Jesus’s most familiar sayings. He invites the weary and overburdened to switch their heavy loads for His lighter and more soulful way of living. Who doesn’t want to live with less burden or less weariness? I certainly do.

The immediate context highlights the related theme of the mysterious interactive and intimate relationship that Jesus has with the Father. The words “All things have been committed to me by my Father” (v. 27) reference all the miracles, healings, teaching and conversing that Jesus did while in Galilee. Everything He has done has come from His close relationship with the Father. I believe this interconnected relationship sustained Jesus in His daily life.

A similar intimate relationship with Jesus is offered to us in the words, “Come to me.” (v. 28) The restful and lighter way of living that we long for comes by binding (Take my yoke upon you and learn from me - v. 29) our lives to Jesus, just as Jesus’s life was bound up in and with the Father. I wonder what coming to Jesus looks like today. I don’t have in mind the coming to Jesus as in coming to Jesus for salvation, what I have in mind is the more daily, hour by hour, coming to Jesus – an intentional practice of acknowledging that our life is lived in and with Jesus.

Can we hear Jesus say, come everyone who is carried away by a multitude of daily tasks? Come everyone wearied by the monotony of daily work. Come everyone whose soul is weighed down by physical pain or challenges. Come to me everyone who is longing for a slower, deeper way of living. These words of Jesus resonate so deeply with us because they name our daily experience. But these words also reverberate with incredible good news. It is in prayerfully coming to Jesus, looking to Him, abiding a little bit more in His presence, in taking time to attune our hearts to His presence, that Jesus sees us, hears us and offers us a wonderful exchange - His way of living for ours.

Lord, let me hear again Your voice that invites me to come to You with everything, so that I might receive Your burden lifting love and presence today. Amen.

Matthew 12:22-37

RILEY ENNS | WINNIPEG, MB

In today’s passage, the people who witnessed Jesus’ miraculous healing are left asking: “How did he do that?” Jesus certainly had a way of astonishing people. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were confident that they knew exactly what was going on behind the scenes. There was a greater power at work and the source was not the Spirit of God, but the prince of demons; Beelzebul.

Why is it that the Pharisees have such a difficult time recognizing the true source of Jesus’ power? Could it be because Jesus didn’t bring with Him the message they wanted to hear? Could it be because He did not endorse the national liberation they had long expected from their messiah? If they conceded that Jesus was, in fact, acting by the power of the Spirit of God, they would have to acknowledge all the ways His message was turning expectations on their head. As N.T. Wright points out, this was their way of rejecting Jesus’ whole program, His entire kingdom-movement.

Like the Pharisees, we too are often tempted to think we know exactly what’s going on behind the scene. We are quick to reject Jesus’ Kingdom-movement; or at least the parts we don’t like, the parts that don’t fit our expectations, the parts that challenge our status quo.

Perhaps we need to shift our focus away from the question of “how did he do that?” and move toward the question of “why did he do that?” This change of perspective helps us better understand Jesus’ purpose, which goes far beyond our limited expectations. Jesus healed because He desired wholeness, not just for this one person in particular, but for all. We are reminded of this in verse 29. That which keeps us from wholeness has been tied up and overcome. We are no longer the possession of the prince of demons. We have been plundered, carried off, and ultimately set free to experience the wholeness Christ offers. This is the whole program. This is what the kingdom-movement is really all about.

Jesus, by the power of Your Spirit, help us not to get caught up in our own expectations of what Your kingdom-movement should be. Rather, may we embrace Your undivided purpose: to bring healing to a world in need of wholeness. Amen.

Prayer of Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths. Rest in God’s presence.

Ask God to guide your reflection in prayer in these moments. Ask God for the grace to be aware of his work in you this past week.

Thank God for these moments of gladness and goodness. Imagine God rejoicing with you.

As you reflect on your week again, pause on any difficult or challenging times. Also, consider how you have missed the mark. What have you done or left undone that requires repentance?

Ask God for his mercy for sin and comfort for your struggle. Imagine God pouring out his love over you.

Pray that God would show you how to respond to what you have noticed, the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask God for his help in responding to his invitation.

Share with God any other thoughts or reflections.

Amen.

“May Be a Whisper”

Take some time to sit with the painting below. What do you notice? How do you feel as you take in this piece of art? Is there anything that you hear God speaking to you in this moment?

Matthew 13:24-30

MARC LANTZ | SERVE GLOBAL: ALASKA

As Jesus would later identify Himself as the sower, I can picture Him offering this solution to the problem of good and evil: “Let both grow together until the harvest.” (v. 30) I can also picture, as time goes on, a growing crowd of well-intentioned “seeds” anxiously challenging Jesus in response. “Jesus, we’ve seen enough injustice. We’ve felt enough pain. Quit sitting there doing nothing about this. Do something…NOW!”

Often, I find I am one of that crowd. Sometimes, I am even the one yelling the loudest. Why am I so anxious about the lingering presence of evil in this world? There are many “good” reasons, actually, that justify my anxious responses. Thanks to my seminary training, I could even provide Bible verses to support them (in Turabian format). My passionate pursuit of righteousness and justice are well-intentioned. My fatherly instincts serve to protect my children and others who are vulnerable. My own fear of temptation means fleeing from evil desires and creating boundaries. Those are all good Christian principles, right? So, what’s wrong with this picture?

The problem I find is this: when I picture Jesus sitting there doing nothing about evil, I fail to see what He accomplished on Calvary. I fail to see that through His death and resurrection, the problem of good and evil has a perfect solution. I fail to see what He will accomplish in His second coming. I also fail to see my role in His kingdom. When I want justice on my terms, I take Jesus off the throne where the Father has placed Him. Seeking control, I sit on the throne of my own understanding. I often see familiar faces from the crowd doing the same thing, further justifying our positions with titles: pastor, elder, executive, mother/father, etc. It turns out, I become a “prince” who governs with anxiety. Meanwhile, Jesus sits on His throne, exalted as the Prince of Peace.

The Prince of Peace is not anxious about evil because His power is stronger, and He will one day conquer it for good. In the meantime, the Holy Spirit offers His protection and guidance through this life. We can lament the pain, the suffering, and the injustice we experience. Jesus bears this ongoing burden as we come to His throne in prayer and worship. We can bring the weight of our emotions to Him instead of hurling it on ourselves or others in the crowd. Instead of anxiety ruling our lives, the Prince of Peace reigns in our hearts.

Lord, may Your victory over evil shine bright in this broken world. May your good seeds flourish in the hope of our salvation. May that hope spread and multiply with the wind of Your Holy Spirit as we cast our fears and anxieties at the Cross. It is the burden You bore for our benefit and for the glory of Your Father. It is why we pray in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 14:22-36

FRANCES BACKIE | SURREY, BC

Anyone who knows me could tell you that I am all-too-easily distracted—by the telephone; by ‘house-noises’; by sounds from outside; by the good and the not-so-good. I watch the bird-feeder; I pick up a magazine, and stop for a cup of tea. It is amazing how quickly I can turn my mind away from my tasks and even sometimes my amusements, by taking my eyes and my focus away from the work and walk of the everyday. It is an amazing idea that our Lord knew this weakness of many of His children, and so, in order to keep us pointing in the right direction, sent a Saviour, whose very name tells us that He was to come to keep us focused. Isaiah 7:14 tells me that, “His name shall be called ‘Emmanuel’—God with us.” The coming Saviour—our Redeemer—was to be the One with us: not merely watching; not just an observer; but the One ‘with us’; who will accompany us through every today and through all our tomorrows. We have Jesus with us constantly, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, helping us to stay ‘on task’, and leading us through every distraction.

Reading today’s passage, I can see that God has a remedy for distraction: Jesus is my first and best example. In the earlier part of this chapter, Jesus had just fed 5,000 men, and spent time with the accompanying crowd, teaching and healing. Now Jesus moves on: physically and emotionally. The first word in our reading (v. 22) is “Immediately”: there is a task to be accomplished, and Jesus gets right back to work. He sends The Twelve in a boat to cross the Sea; while He ‘dismisses the crowds’ with His blessing, then prepared to take up His next duty (v. 23) and it began with prayer. In order to stay the course, Jesus knew the value of time spent with the Father, the true source of strength. I know that to begin my ‘jobs’ with prayer is the best way to begin with my heart and mind ‘fixed’ on Him as my source of wisdom and authority. If I want to listen to Him, I must set aside time for us to be together.

The focus of the disciples in the boat was definitely not on prayer and trust. While Jesus remained on shore, they battled the wind and waves of a storm. When Jesus came out to meet them, walking on the sea, their reaction was terror, and they ‘cried out in fear’. Now they are distracted from fighting the elements by the only One who could help. This is the second use of the word “immediately” (v. 27) in this passage: Jesus is always ready to respond to our calls for help! Jesus tells them all to “Fear not”. The storm does not stop, but they are reminded that Jesus is with them. Peter joins Jesus on the water, and all goes well until Peter gets distracted by the wind. Peter is no longer looking at Jesus, but at his circumstances.

Like Peter, I long to step out and walk bravely ‘on the waves’, but how easy it is to be distracted by fears and doubts! Take note that Jesus touched Peter—He did not just speak—just as He touches our hearts and lives through the Holy Spirit. The storm only ceased when Peter and Jesus entered the boat—after they withstood the storm together. Truly, Jesus is “God with us”—our “Shelter in the time of storm”, to quote an old hymn. I am always grateful for every moment I have to spend with my Saviour, for He alone can help me from becoming distracted by all that surrounds me.

Precious Lord, help me to concentrate my mind and heart on You; to become more like You—fully focussed on the people and tasks that You have laid into my hands. Let me be useful, and used. Amen.

Take a moment to be still.

PRAYER | LECTIO DIVINA

Tell God that you are listening.

Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer and then sit in silence for a moment.

Matthew 15:29-39

SHAROL JOSEPHSON | BALFOUR, BC

I’ve been obsessed lately with reading accounts in the gospels of Jesus feeding people. And eating with people.

Maybe it’s because I love both. Making food for people is one of life’s great joys. And gathering around a table with friends and family - eating, drinking, talking, laughing - fills up my soul as well as my body. It feels sacramental.

Perhaps because it’s something Jesus did. A lot. In the book of Luke alone, it happens ten times. One writer says “In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.” 1

In the text, we see Jesus feeding 4,000. This, after three days of teaching and healing. Jesus tells his disciples “I have compassion for these people...I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” (v. 32)

Take note. Jesus wasn’t feeding them so they could stay longer and hear more of His teaching. No ulterior motive. Just compassion. Care for their stomachs as well as their souls.

You’ve probably heard that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” but judging by how often Jesus breaks bread with people, it may also be the way to our souls. Many of the important conversations Jesus had with his disciples followed a good meal.

When Jesus makes his disciples breakfast on the beach (John 21) he carefully prepares a fire of hot coals, then sizzles up some fresh fish and warms the bread. All this before he challenges Peter to “feed my sheep”.

Of course He means spiritual food, but it’s not lost on Peter - or me - that Jesus has just fed them physically. Or how often the two go hand in hand.

When we read passages like this, the feeding of the 4,000, we can focus on logistics. How? What? Or on the multiplication factor. How Jesus can take our meagre offering - our metaphorical loaves and fish - and multiply it into something God-sized.

But we can easily miss the beautiful character-reveal in this story: the compassion and hospitality of Jesus. He takes care of people - body, mind and spirit. He is mindful of our needs. He enjoys our company. He wants to host us. “He prepares a table for us” (Psalm 23) to be with Him, to be intimate with Him, to talk with Him about spiritual things and human things, and all things.

So Jesus, this Lenten season we intend to host our neighbours for meals. Like You did. We invite You to be the “unseen guest of every meal, the silent listener to every conversation” and may Your compassion and hospitality be the secret ingredients in every dish.

1 Robert J. Karris, Eating Your Way through Luke’s Gospel

Matthew 16:21-28

CODY ANDERSON | WINNIPEG, MB

Hebrews 12:1 instructs us, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Have you ever thought of your desire for comfort and insulation from suffering as that which hinders you? Jesus seems to think it does. And Peter learns a very hard lesson as he tries to school Jesus in normal and proper Messiahship.

“How will you ever do what you need to do, Lord, if you suffer and die?” Peter asks. Jesus informs him that he’s entangled in human concerns, and it’s sinful. That kind of thinking hinders the race marked out for Christ.

If we’re paying attention to the true Gospel message, it is exactly suffering and death that allows Jesus to be Savior to us. The cross is marked on Christ’s Road Map, and there’s no skirting around it. And He doesn’t mince words in telling Peter and all would-be followers this truth.

“Get behind me, Satan!” Perhaps we find Jesus’ words towards Peter troubling given that Peter had very good intentions in mind. But is Jesus having flashbacks to the wilderness showdown with the devil in Matthew 4? Biblical scholar Craig Keener seems to think so. And he points out that what the tempter offered Jesus was “the kingdom without a cross.”

I wonder how many of us have unknowingly taken that offer? How many of us have tried to be disciples without suffering… sacrifice… cross?

Remember, when we say we are followers of Jesus, we are signing up for denial of self, as Jesus did. If we’re honest, much of our lives are spent promoting self, leading the way, hoping Jesus will follow close behind.

If this is you, perhaps you need to hear the words from Jesus, “Get behind me again…” He rebukes us for our own good. For all that is difficult in the passage to swallow and follow, let us never forget the gift that is offered if we do, our souls are saved. And what could possibly be worth more than this?

Jesus as we pay attention to Your focal concerns and our cultures, we admit there is deep dissonance between the two. Forgive us for trying to make your concerns ours. We humbly step behind You again and take cues from Your way. Spirit enable us to do so today and every day we have breath. Amen.

Prayer of Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths. Rest in God’s presence.

Ask God to guide your reflection in prayer in these moments. Ask God for the grace to be aware of his work in you this past week.

Thank God for these moments of gladness and goodness. Imagine God rejoicing with you.

As you reflect on your week again, pause on any difficult or challenging times. Also, consider how you have missed the mark. What have you done or left undone that requires repentance?

Ask God for his mercy for sin and comfort for your struggle. Imagine God pouring out his love over you.

Pray that God would show you how to respond to what you have noticed, the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask God for his help in responding to his invitation.

Share with God any other thoughts or reflections.

Amen.

“If Only I Trust”

Take some time to sit with the painting below. What do you notice? How do you feel as you take in this piece of art? Is there anything that you hear God speaking to you in this moment?

Matthew 17:1-13

PRESTON POUTEAUX | CHESTERMERE, AB

When Jesus met with Elijah and Moses on the high mountain, He was with friends; two figures God had loved into eternity. These legends loom large in the story of Scripture: Moses freed God’s people and took on Pharaoh; Elijah battled the prophets of Baal and spoke to evil with boldness. Of course Jesus would appear only with His most faithful and courageous friends, right?

But were they?

Both Elijah and Moses found themselves at their utter wits end, burnt out, run over, and begged to be removed from the action. Moses was overwhelmed by the weight of his role leading God’s people. He bursts out, “Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people… I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery.” (Numbers 11:11-15). Elijah, too, after experiencing God’s awesome power found himself on the run, and under a lone tree he “prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life…” (1 Kings 19:4). Exhausted servants of God who felt used, lonely, unseen, uncared-for, and unloved. They were done.

I am overwhelmed when I read of this transfiguration story because I, too, have been at moments of complete exhaustion. I’ve been to the end of myself. I’ve prayed for relief, for an end. Then, in a white-bright flash of loving friendship I see Jesus standing with Moses and Elijah, His friends, radiant with Him in perfect peace - not dead as they once hoped to be, but very much alive with the One who came to them in their darkness. Jesus is talking with them in a scene of glorious hope, deeply personal affection and nearness. What did God do that these burnt out men would stand as his dear friends in this spectacular moment?

Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, cried out to the Father, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.” His prayer echoes our own, but with a turn, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42). In Jesus we find our end in the best way possible: not our death, but His life, given for us. A friend with us.

Jesus, we confess that in our sorrow we don’t want to carry on. We are done. Thank You that You come into our ‘done-ness’ and You meet us there as a loving friend. Give us Yourself in our tiredness, that we might find our rest in You. Amen.

Matthew 18:1-9

CLARISSA CHEUNG | MARKHAM, ON

What does Jesus mean when He says that we are to humble ourselves to become like children? And why?

I am reminded that God’s kingdom is an upside-down kingdom, where “the last shall become the first, and the first last (Matthew 20:16).” Jesus Himself came as Saviour of the world, but not in a way that anyone expected--He subverted the powerful, and He saved humanity not as a military leader or king in the earthly sense, but as the son of God who submitted to the will of the Father and condescended from heaven to be with humanity. Jesus said that we are to be just like children-lowly, trusting, submissive, and wholly dependent on God our Father.

It is really easy to go through life trusting in our own strength and abilities. A lot of the time, we can make decisions without bringing them to God, inquiring of Him or asking Him to provide and lead. I remember this to be true of myself when I accepted a shiny new job offer without bringing it to God--I neither asked Him whether this was His will for me, nor did I thank Him for providing me with such an opportunity, nor did I rely on His strength. In my pride, I had chosen to go at it on my own, thinking I knew what was best for me. Of course, as it turned out, the job was not everything that I had hoped and dreamed. Coming out of this particular experience, I was reminded of my utter need and reliance on God, and that I needed His power to bring forth life and goodness. I am reminded that my pride and self-sufficiency do not lead to life, but that humility and dependence on Jesus does.

I am always struck by the severity in which Jesus speaks of stumbling blocks. He does not take lightly causing others to stumble. He uses the imagery of cutting off one’s limbs should one’s hand or foot or eye cause them to stumble, for that would be better than for the entire body to be thrown into hell. It reminds me of the saying, “Cut off the arm to save the body.” Lent is a time to reorient ourselves toward the life that God has called us to, and an important part of that is to reflect upon the things in our lives that are tempting us to sin. Are there things in our lives that are causing us to be prideful, to seek control, to be cynical, hurtful to others, or untrusting of God? What do we need to let go of to reorient ourselves toward a life of faith and to become like children in the way Jesus was speaking about?

During this Lent season, may we be reminded of Jesus’ submission to the will of the Father and condescension to earth, where he flipped conventional ideas of kingship and salvation on its head. May we likewise become like little children and let go of the things that tempt us to be prideful, self-sufficient, cynical, and distrusting.

You’ve shown us the value of being like that of a little child. Would Your Spirit reveal to us the things in our lives that are drawing us away from You. Help us to let go of our pride, desire for control, cynicism, and distrust, and to be like a little child, wholly dependent on You and submissive to Your will. In this process may we experience the life you’ve meant for us in you. Amen.

Take a moment to be still.

PRAYER | LECTIO DIVINA

Tell God that you are listening.

Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer and then sit in silence for a moment.

Matthew 20:1-16

CHRIS HINES | ERICKSON, BC

At first this passage struck me as odd, as unfair. The workers the vineyard owner hired had not worked equally, but were paid equal wages nonetheless. The workers who the vineyard owner hired in the morning agreed to be paid a denarius. The owner went out again throughout the day hiring other workers agreeing to pay “whatever is right”. By the end of the day, he gave each of these workers a full denarius. Jesus tells us this story to reveal the Father’s generosity, as well as to humble us who think ourselves righteous in our works.

Surely when we work longer and harder than others we deserve a greater reward, right? When we think this way, even rightfully so, we put ourselves above others. We become jealous. We get in our own heads of what we think we deserve, and miss the gifts before us.

The workers who were hired first agreed to the promised pay of one denarius. The workers hired later did not know the amount they were to be paid, but they put trust in the owner that they would get what is right for the work they did. But because they answered the owner’s call, they received a generous reward. Jesus tells us that this parable is like the Kingdom of Heaven. When the Father calls us and we answer, we will have abundant rewards.

God gives us what we need for the day, plus more from His abundant grace. A denarius is the daily wage of a roman soldier, more than a typical vineyard worker would earn. The workers who go out early to do work were given what they needed for the day to live. The workers who did nothing throughout the day, earning no money, who came to work later in the day, were given what they needed for the day to live.

When I look into what God has done for me, I see that what I have done is inadequate to the reward God blesses me with. Although at times my pride may bring me to think I am more like the first hired workers, doing more and thus deserving more, when I look at myself I see I am more like the workers hired last. I stumble, I can’t do enough, yet God still gives me what I need each day, and has given me a place in heaven. When it comes to God’s justice and grace, it is He who determines the reward.

Amid this season of Lent, let us be more aware of how we are provided for each day. Let us be led by the Holy Spirit to be responsive to the calling of Christ, and be humble, that we will not be humbled when the day is done.

Lord, let us be responsive to Your great calling that we may feel the joy you offer to us so freely. We yearn to be near to You, to be transformed by You, to live a life led by You, so we may experience what You offer to us freely. Amen.

Matthew 21:1-17

STACIA MICHAEL | PRINCE ALBERT, SK

For the past several months, I have been part of a group of women meeting together for group spiritual direction. One of the key guidelines for our time together is not to provide solutions but to share what we are noticing in the other as the Spirit guides our time together. Sometimes we notice things like a shift in posture or a repeated theme, sometimes we notice the joy on our friend’s face, sometimes we notice the heaviness another is bearing. Focusing our attention on listening well through the Spirit and then giving voice to what we notice has become a powerful spiritual practice.

With an oh-so-familiar story like the Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21, it takes a similar kind of focus to listen well to what the scripture is saying. We’ve heard it before, we know this story, so it’s easier to operate with our first assumptions, long-held traditions, or simply to zone out as we read the familiar words yet again.

So perhaps we do not notice on our tenth, twentieth, hundredth reading that Jesus, welcomed as king by the common people on the streets of Jerusalem, does not choose to soak up the moment, bask in the glory, ride that high horse(colt) just a little bit longer. The people are celebrating and shouting, hoping that Jesus is indeed their promised Messiah who had come to “save now!” (hosanna). He enters the city, raises quite a stir, and marches in to exercise His kingly authority. But not to prolong the majesty of the moment. Not for His own sake or to serve His own interest.

Instead He heads to the temple and uses His authority to restore it as a place of prayer.

He is indeed coming to offer deliverance and salvation, but not from the Romans. It is from those who would obstruct access for all to the temple, the place where God and God’s people met together. He drives out the money changers (this takes in the court of the Gentiles, people are coming from all over the world) and upset the benches of those selling doves (the most affordable offering option for the poor). The blind and the lame come to Him here, at the temple, and are healed. Deliverance and salvation has indeed come! The chief priests and teachers of the law see “the wonderful things he did”, hear the praises of the children, and become indignant. Instead of noticing God’s work in this moment, they can only see the disruption, the commotion, the trouble Jesus is causing.

This leads me to reflect on the times that I am like those religious leaders, more indignant about the interference Jesus’ work in my life brings than able to celebrate the healing. Jesus’ authority in our lives means that systems that oppress, that separate us from God, that keep us trapped in bondage to sin must be overturned. That is why we cry “Hosanna!” – because we know we need salvation. But we can become adapted to those very systems that have us trapped, making their loss seem less like deliverance and more like danger.

What if instead of trying to settle the disruption, fix the problem, or totally tune out the commotion; we try to notice what the Spirit is inviting us to in the space created by holy interruption? We might start by noticing which reaction to the transforming work of Jesus we gravitate – fix it, calm it, ignore it, get mad at it, etc. Where might the Spirit like to lead us instead?

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here. Help us to listen well to Jesus, even and especially in spaces of God’s holy and healing disruption. Amen.

Prayer of Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths. Rest in God’s presence.

Ask God to guide your reflection in prayer in these moments. Ask God for the grace to be aware of his work in you this past week.

Thank God for these moments of gladness and goodness. Imagine God rejoicing with you.

As you reflect on your week again, pause on any difficult or challenging times. Also, consider how you have missed the mark. What have you done or left undone that requires repentance?

Ask God for his mercy for sin and comfort for your struggle. Imagine God pouring out his love over you.

Pray that God would show you how to respond to what you have noticed, the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask God for his help in responding to his invitation.

Share with God any other thoughts or reflections.

Amen.

“All Of My Days”

Take some time to sit with the painting below. What do you notice? How do you feel as you take in this piece of art? Is there anything that you hear God speaking to you in this moment?

Matthew 26:17-30

JASON ASHLEY | BALFOUR, BC

When I read this passage in light of our overarching theme of “setting down distraction and hurry to more fully attend to Jesus”, I am surprised by the leisure with which Jesus approached His death. Despite my best efforts, I still tend to think along secular lines. I still tend to wonder at His choice to share the Passover Meal with His disciples. In secular terms, it seems like a misappropriation of time. Wouldn’t it have been more “useful” if He had healed a few more people? Wouldn’t it have been more practical if He had preached “His best sermon yet” or hosted a “tent revival” just outside Jerusalem, taking advantage of all the travelers making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem?

And yet, here is Jesus, His “appointed time” drawing near, reclining at a table, sharing a meal. And this meal wasn’t a quick “bite” before He headed out to His destiny. No, it was the Passover meal - intentional, slow, and drawn out. It was a meal filled with liturgy and tradition. Surprisingly, Jesus makes time for His disciples. He purposefully made room for this last meal with them.

Attending to these details, I realize Jesus makes time for us too, instituting our meaningsoaked meal – the Eucharist. Jesus seems to approach this whole meal with this surprising calm-amidst-the-storm intent. I realize in new ways the gift of this meal! And I see Him, reclining at the table, with His disciples, despite all that was pressing in on Him. It’s surreal to see Him giving bread and blessing cups, as he was preparing to give His body and shed His blood. In this moment, He gave the Church a meal that would sustain her for millennia.

My first reaction remains surprising, but as I’ve thought about it more, I am reminded of the final hours I have spent with people nearing death. I thought of the time I’ve spent with families in hospitals, friends at their bedside, my own father as he slowly and then simply stopped breathing. Those final hours aren’t hectic. Few people concern themselves with “what would be most productive.” Near death, everyone slows down. The time is a mix of quiet tears, and reminiscent smiles. Maybe it’s our fear of “final hours” rather than the final hours themselves, that presses us to “fit more in” and “get more done.” Yet we all arrive at the moment. And, barring a sudden accident, it is so often slow, and quiet… and timeless. In that moment, despite all the things left undone, I realize we are more human and perhaps more like Jesus.

Slow, and quiet…and timeless. Amen.

Matthew 26: 36-56

JORDAN RAVENSBERGEN | LANGLEY, BC

One of the memories I cherish is sitting with other cabin leaders on the last night of summer camp. Knowing that for the rest of the year we would likely have minimal contact (these were early social media days), and revelling in our final moments together before an extended time apart.

I’d like to imagine that in this passage, Jesus feels similarly, even though His future suffering is far greater than returning to high school. Although Jesus asks the disciples to “stay awake” with Him, He doesn’t need them to for the sake of His ego or glory. Nor does He need them awake to be able to connect with God or for some kind of performative prayer. These people were His followers, yes, but they were also His friends. I can imagine as Jesus’ awareness of their imminent separation grew, He wanted these people He had come to know so well and care about deeply to be close to Him. Jesus’ “soul is deeply grieved” and He wants His community to keep watch with Him, to bring Him some comfort.

Yet even as the disciples fail to keep their eyes open, after an initial warning to stay alert, when He catches them sleeping again, He leaves them be. He understands the human experience, and as their eyes are heavy and they are tired, He lets them sleep.

And perhaps this is why Jesus and the disciples have such varied reactions to Jesus’ betrayal. One follower is even prompted to violence, while Jesus is prepared to meet traitorous hearts with healing. Jesus’ heart has been prepared in prayer, while the follower was probably still slightly groggy from his time of rest. Whether this reflection finds you in a season of alertness, or in a season of sleep, my prayer for us today is that we would remember Jesus is more than a detached and unfeeling miracle-robot. That we would find hope and a reason to keep our eyes open in Jesus. Not because it gets us a reward, or makes us better than anyone, but because our relationship with and connection to Jesus is immensely grounding and revelatory. The human experience is tiring. The question iswill we close our eyes to it, or will we share it with someone (Jesus) who understands and wants to bear our burdens with us?

Inhale: Though my flesh and bones grow tired

Exhale: Open my eyes to Jesus strength and care

Take a moment to be still.

PRAYER | LECTIO DIVINA

Tell God that you are listening.

Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer and then sit in silence for a moment.

Matthew 27:32-56

KIRSTEN WALDSCHMIDT | SASKATOON, SK

As I read through this familiar but terrible passage again, I notice the different ways that different people ‘kept company’ with Jesus in His final hours. Simon was forced to walk with Jesus, even forced to carry His cross. What a horrific honour this would have been! And yet, it wasn’t what Simon chose. There were those who were walking by on the road throwing insults or the religious leaders who mocked. Even those crucified next to Jesus were only able to spew bitterness out of their suffering mouths. Bystanders speculated, made up stories and misunderstood. There were guards who played games at the foot of His cross and then sat around bored… being ‘on guard’. Watching at a distance were the women who came alongside Jesus to care for Him as He traveled and ministered. I’m sure they were stunned with grief, horror, disbelief, fear and helplessness.

Despite all the different ways these various people spent time with Jesus in His pain, Jesus’ death brought about the tearing of the temple curtain in two. It literally shook the earth, caused unnatural darkness and even caused people to rise from their graves. All of these physical and symbolic manifestations of the enormity of Jesus’ death were “larger than life.” It’s like Jesus was responding to each and every one who had been (and would ever be) interacting with Him. An earthquake and a sudden eclipse of the sun, for example, far overshadows insulting words tossed. It’s like Jesus can handle and respond to every single way we might come alongside Him.

When you are angry, bitter, and resentful - even with God… When you are hurting, incredulous and full of doubt… When you are resisting and would rather go your own way… When you are making up whatever narrative feels like it will make sense of what you can’t understand…When you are uneasy, disappointed, scared or exhausted… Then Jesus is right there with you. The miracle is that Jesus companions with us regardless of our ability to companion with Him. Jesus walks alongside you and I in the good, bad and the ugly with a love and a power that shakes the very pillars of the earth and the foundations of our understanding. The wonder in this all, is that Jesus companions with us through His own experience of profound loneliness and disorientation - “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”.

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.” (Psalm 139:7-8)

Jesus, as You companion me, in whatever emotional or spiritual state I find myself in today, will You give me the holy grace of noticing Your presence. Amen.

Matthew 27:57-66

RAY WALL | ROSEBUD, AB

A somber end to a sorrowful day. There’s no mistaking it: Jesus is dead. The one who called Himself “the Resurrection and the Life” is now lifeless. The one who gave Himself for the world’s salvation has been taken from us.

While most may ignore the quiet of Good Friday evening, life doesn’t allow us to avoid it. It’s the inbetween time—the moment after the crucifixion, yet before the resurrection. What was is gone, and what will be remains uncertain. It’s a time of waiting, feeling lost with nowhere to go and nothing to do.

We all experience this “in-between” in different ways—through the death of Jesus, the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, or shattered dreams. While Good Friday only comes once a year, in life, these moments can last far longer. They point us to the tomb, with no clear path forward.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary are sitting opposite the tomb. Joseph of Arimathea has sealed it, walked away, and left the body of Jesus behind. Some of us, in times of loss, may try to close up the tombs in our lives, believing there is nothing left. But Mary and the other Mary sit in silence, still and present. There are no words to speak, only waiting.

This is the time for stillness, for remembering, for hoping, and for wondering. Maybe this is what true faithfulness looks like—being present to the reality of what is, without rushing to make it better.

Where is Christ on Good Friday evening? As the Apostles’ Creed reminds us, He “descended to the dead.” In our own moments of darkness, Christ descends with us, breaking the power of death and bringing freedom to those bound by sorrow.

It’s hard, we long for joy to replace our grief. But Jesus doesn’t replace sorrow; He transforms it. He takes death and gives birth to new life. His triumph comes not apart from death, but through it. He conquers death by dying and brings life to those in the tombs.

The women who waited by the tomb will be the first to see Jesus on Easter Sunday. So in the waiting, trust the silence—faithfulness promises that something is happening behind the great stone. Be still. Remember, hope, pray. Though it is Good Friday evening, your Lord, who loves you, is already at work!

Lord Jesus Christ, Help us to embrace the silence, to remember Your faithfulness, and to hold onto the hope that even in the darkest moments You are at work. We long for the joy of Easter, but in this moment, we rest in the promise that You are with us, even now. Amen.

Prayer of Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths. Rest in God’s presence.

Ask God to guide your reflection in prayer in these moments. Ask God for the grace to be aware of his work in you this past week.

Thank God for these moments of gladness and goodness. Imagine God rejoicing with you.

As you reflect on your week again, pause on any difficult or challenging times. Also, consider how you have missed the mark. What have you done or left undone that requires repentance?

Ask God for his mercy for sin and comfort for your struggle. Imagine God pouring out his love over you.

Pray that God would show you how to respond to what you have noticed, the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask God for his help in responding to his invitation.

Share with God any other thoughts or reflections.

Amen.

“I’ve Got a Reason to Praise”

Take some time to sit with the painting below. What do you notice? How do you feel as you take in this piece of art? Is there anything that you hear God speaking to you in this moment?

He is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!