Lenten Reader 2022 by Evangelical Covenant Church

A Brief Introduction In 2020 the Lenten Reader was compiled prior to any of us knowing what was coming so there were no references to the pandemic even though it landed in the thick of the Lenten season. In 2021 we did not produce a Lenten Reader for various reasons but the pandemic was a big one. This year, we return with a Lenten Reader that is updated in format and I sincerely hope God uses it to disciple you in this season. The changes made this year include reducing the number of written devotionals and replacing two days in each week of Lent with contemplative spiritual practices. Every Wednesday has a Psalm choice and instructions for Lectio Divina (Latin for Divine Reading). This ancient practice can be a rich experience in which participants hear from God through the Scriptures. The Psalm choices are all Psalms of Ascent. These Psalms were specifically used when worshippers came to Jerusalem and ascended into the temple. Lent is a journey to the cross. Our Psalm choices are meant to help locate us in this journey—one Jesus began on Palm Sunday. Every Saturday we will break from reading the Scriptures and use a revised Ignatian Examen to pray through what God is teaching us each week. The examen is a tool by which we meditate on what brings joy in our readings, devotions, or life in general. Another word for this is consolation. The examen also allows us to reflect on what has not sat well with us, what has made us sad or angry, where we have sinned. Another word for this is desolation. By prayerfully reflecting on consolation and desolation, we allow the Holy Spirit to help us recognize themes that may be fruitful for further prayer or discussion with a trusted friend, spiritual director, or pastor. As has been our tradition since the first Lenten Reader in 2013, each Sunday has a work of art. This year, artists David and Katy Shimp of Faith Covenant Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba, have created not only the cover art, but also a six piece series that culminates in a seventh work for Easter Sunday. This method used a process of cutting the artwork into a linoleum block and then printing it onto paper. This was followed by the addition of watercolour. I am struck by how similar this process is to what we are seeking in Lent. The traditional practices of Lent are prayer, alms giving (generosity), and fasting. Each of these spiritual practices form us into more Christ-like people. The linoleum block must be carved, scraped, cut, and shaped by the hands of the artist who uses knives, gouges, and chisels. Prayer, generosity, and fasting are some of the tools the Master Artist uses to form us as Christ’s disciples.

By removing portions of the linoleum, the artist creates a stamp in order to print what remains. My prayer is that in this season and with the help of this Lenten Reader, God will remove what needs removing in our lives in order to let His image come through more fully in us. Our devotional texts come from the Gospel of Matthew. Each reading includes a question asked by Jesus. Jesus asks over 100 questions throughout the Gospels. He tends to get to the heart of a matter through questions. I invite you to read the text each day, wonder about the question Jesus is asking, and then read the devotional. Contributions for the Lenten Reader come from all over the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. Thank you to all who wrote a devotional and shared what Jesus taught you through the text. I am grateful to David and Katy Shimp. More of their artwork can be found on Instagram (@twolines_art). I am also grateful to Hanne Pihowich for her assistance in editing the reader. May God grow us all in discipleship. Julia Sandstrom Winnipeg, MB

First Day of Lent Ash Wednesday

March 2 Psalm 121

Take a moment to be still. Tell God that you are listening. Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer.

Read the text again. Pay attention to a word, phrase, or theme that seems to stand out or shimmer for you. 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? 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 theologizing, Lectio Divina invites us to meditate on God’s Word in His presence, guided by the Spirit. Take a few moments to respond to God in prayer using your word, phrase, or theme.

Second Day of Lent

March 3 Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’” It’s strange to me that Jesus says this. Where had they heard this? Is He quoting scripture? I went back to Leviticus 19, where God tells Moses about how the Israelites are supposed to treat one another to see if there was a hate command I had somehow missed. Here’s what verses 17-18 say: “Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart… Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself.” Simple instructions: Love your neighbour. It even says, “do not hate a fellow Israelite.” But, somewhere along the line, a group of Pharisees–known for being exceptionally strict–began teaching what they thought this command implied. They assumed that if you are to “love your neighbour as yourself,” than the opposite should be true for your enemy. So, if neighbour equals fellow Israelite (‘those like me’), than enemy must equal non-Israelite (‘those not like me’). A group of religious teachers normalized the idea of loving your neighbour and hating your enemy. In Leviticus 19, verses 33-34 give instructions about caring for an outsider, but that didn’t fit the Pharisees’ agenda. We do this today. We build walls that keep them over there. Jesus reminds us to love the one not like us unconditionally and pray for the one who is combative toward us. More simple instructions. Doing so, as verse 48 shows, will make us perfect. It will make our faith more mature, complete, and reflective of Jesus. Take a few moments now to allow Jesus to reveal what builds walls of hatred for you and ask Him to give you the spiritual gifts of compassion and mercy so that you may practice unconditional love.

Erick Abramson Newmarket, ON

Third Day of Lent

March 4 Matthew 6:25-34

I’m choosing to find it humorous that the passage on worry got assigned to the woman with chronic anxiety. It seems laughable that I might have something to share on this as I live with a certain level of worry running in my brain and body most of the time. My life feels like the antithesis of this chapter.

I never noticed before that the two things Jesus compares people to are birds and flowers—neither of which have the cognitive capacity to worry. Jesus talks about how each is taken care of, provided for, lavished upon by the love of the Father. It’s a beautiful image. It is a true picture. All of creation is sustained by God. But, I’ll say it again: birds and flowers don’t worry. They couldn’t even if they wanted to! Did you know that the ability to perceive danger and threat keeps us alive? We constantly scan our environments for threats and make adjustments to stay safe. Birds are doing that too! The capacity of their “bird brain” is to respond to threat, fly away, and get on with life. Humans react to threats and then get stuck thinking about when that threat might occur again. There are 125 trillion synapses in the human cerebral cortex. We can create buildings that touch the clouds, satellites that leave the solar system, and more worried thoughts than could ever be counted. God knows we have these cognitive capacities. He gave them to us. So I don’t think He’s asking us to be like the birds and flowers and never worry. Rather, He’s reminding us that our worry doesn’t influence whether or not God is providing for us. He simply always is, and His questions point us to the answer to our worry: Himself. My life isn’t in opposition to this chapter. Instead, it’s an opportunity to remember Him. Each day I can choose to thank God for my thinking brain and for anxiety that alerts and protects me and then do what God reminds me of here: to ground myself in His presence, His love for me, and His daily provision.

Dixie Vandersluys Minnedosa, MB

Fourth Day of Lent

March 5 Saturday Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few breaths. Ask God to guide your reflection and prayer in these moments. Ask Him for the grace to be aware of His work in you this past week.

Ask God for His mercy for sin and comfort for struggle. Imagine God pouring out His love over you. Pray that God would show you how to respond to the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask Him for His help in responding to His invitation. Share with God any other thoughts or reflections. Amen.

First Sunday of Lent

March 6

Prayer 1: The prayer of lament. (#1)

Fifth Day of Lent

March 7 Matthew 7:1-6

Today’s text in Matthew carries different titles depending on the translation. Some examples are “Judging Others” (NIV) or “A Simple Guide for Behaviour” (Msg). These titles cut right to the point and although it is simple in concept, softening our judgment and initial reactions to others is anything but simple. In these pandemic days where we are so disconnected, yet we still have so much access to each other's thoughts and opinions, it is hard not simply to see people for their shortcomings. However, if we are honest, shortcomings are often simply how others are different from us. This type of judgment is worldly judgment and produces anger, hatred, arrogance, and division in us. True biblical judgment produces different attributes in us. James writes about wisdom and discernment; perhaps these words pair well with Matthew’s guide for behaviour. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17-18) I want to challenge us during this season of Lent to consider the motives and outcomes of our judgments towards each other. Maybe we replace the word “judge” with “listen in order to understand.” How can I better understand why someone thinks differently than I do to love them well? Without forfeiting our convictions, we can better understand each other and find ways to still care for one another. If we are not careful, our judgmental thoughts can quickly become actions. Remember the words of Mother Theresa, who embodied the actions of grace towards everyone, “If we judge people, we have no time to love them.”

Bethany Abramson Newmarket, ON

Sixth Day of Lent

March 8 Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus expects us to ask our Father for His good gifts. First, Jesus commands us to appeal three times: ask, seek, knock. And we know that anything in triplicate is designed to grab our attention! But then Jesus promises God's good response to our asking, seeking, and knocking no less than six times! All three commands to ask, seek, and knock are followed by promises of response, and then those three are underscored by three more assurances! So what good are you asking for this Lent? But perhaps the question is better put: “what's stopping you from asking? Among the many things preventing us from boldly asking, our greatest hindrance might be our mistrust in God's goodness. Jesus pushes past the commands and around the assurances and lobbies us with His questions about God's goodness. “You give good gifts to your kids, don’t you?” Jesus asks. “You respond to their needs with generosity and grace, right? Well, then how much more can you trust our good Father’s response?” And however good we might think we are (uhhh…and Jesus calls us "evil"), God is infinitely better! So get fixed on His goodness and then ask Him for His good. Moving swiftly, Jesus then offers His famous Golden Rule to “do to others what you would have them do to you.” Is that a different topic altogether? While it certainly has broad application (“so in everything” pretty much covers, well, everything!), let’s apply it now to trust-filled, bold asking of God for His good gifts. If we would ask God for His good for us, now we are invited to ask for each other. So, very simply then, two questions: What good are you asking for yourself this Lent? Our good Father is pleased to respond. All you must do is ask. And second, what good might you then ask for someone else? Our good Father is perhaps even more pleased to respond to this ask, as it's offered with His own selfless generosity. So ask away, friends. He is listening.

Tom Greentree Erickson, BC

Seventh Day of Lent

March 9 Psalm 123

Take a moment to be still. Tell God that you are listening. Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer.

Eighth Day of Lent

March 10 Matthew 8:5-13

My imagination goes in a few different directions as I read this encounter between Jesus and a Roman outsider, an unwelcome leader of a hundred and his deep concern for one of his men. The Centurion, public enemy number one, acknowledges the authority and lordship of Jesus even as he acknowledges his own “unworthiness”- “I’m not even worthy for you, Jesus, to come into my home.” As I read this brief encounter, the words of the familiar nursery rhyme come to the surface: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again. The “King’s horses and the King’s man” can’t heal Humpty, but Jesus, the true King– the one who is the perfect imprint of the Father–can, and the implicit questions begin to rise: + +

I believe you are one with authority; you can command “go,” “come,” “do this,” but will you? And would you for me? I read this brief encounter, and a simple definition of faith enters the conversation, “faith believes that God is who He says He is, and He’ll do what He says He’ll do.” I believe that God has the capacity and capability to heal, restore and make all of creation whole. So why doesn’t that always happen? I love the good news of this text- the gospel. Not the rabbi, not the religious teacher, not the insider, but the national threat, the outsider - the one who “belongs before he behaves” captures the heart and attention of Jesus - “just say the word.” I wonder in what ways am I receiving this Kingdom good news? As a follower of Jesus, how am I giving this Kingdom good news? Am I willing to risk the safe space of unbelief for the risky space of acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus and the invitation to believe in the broken realities of my day?

Jesus, meet me–meet us–in our questions AND heal our broken world.

Glenn Peterson Strathmore, AB

Ninth Day of Lent

March 11 Matthew 8: 23-27

There are other stories in the Scriptures where God has control over water. In Exodus 14:21, the Lord created a dry path through the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross through and escape the Egyptians. In Joshua 3:16, we see the Lord stop the flow of the Jordan River, again making a dry path for the Israelites, which allowed them to cross into the Promised Land. In Jonah 1:15, the storm stopped as soon as the men on the boat threw Jonah into the sea. God clearly has power over the Earth’s waters, and I imagine most Israelites at the time knew this about God considering these are some of the most famous stories in the Scriptures. We see in Matthew 8 that the disciples did not really know who was in the boat with them during this storm. Even after Jesus calmed the storm, they still didn’t understand. “Who is this man?” they asked. I wonder what the disciples’ response to the storm would have been had they realized that Jesus, the man sleeping in their boat, was God! The God of Israel had already clearly displayed His ability to calm a storm and control the waters. I think this passage is communicating that we need to know who Jesus is. And that when we know Him, one thing that becomes clear is that we do not have to fear. During this Lent Season, no matter how long you have been walking with and knowing Jesus, I encourage you to spend time getting to know Jesus. Let’s ask ourselves, “Is there anything that I am fearful of?” And if so, bring that to Jesus and ask Him, “Jesus, would you please reveal yourself to me and help me with this fear?” Whether you are at a high place or a valley place, I pray that you would walk closely with the Shepherd and fear no evil, for He is with you. Amen.

Jordan Achterhof Toronto, ON

Tenth Day of Lent

March 12 Saturday Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few breaths. Ask God to guide your reflection and prayer in these moments. Ask Him for the grace to be aware of His work in you this past week.

Second Sunday of Lent

Prayer 2: The prayer of praise. (#2)

March 13

Eleventh Day of Lent

March 14 Matthew 9:1-8

Criticism. Judgement. Pessimism. All words for thinking the worst. Jesus asks the question in this passage: “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4 NLT) Jesus spoke words of encouragement to the paralyzed man, confirming that he was forgiven and loved. Jesus was encouraging him because of the paralyzed man’s inspiring faith. However, those watching on the sidelines, the teachers of religious law, chose to focus on what they believed He was doing wrong. Why is it so much easier to tear each other down rather than build each other up? We see it everywhere in today’s society: harsh judgement of our leaders, rude comments online, growing ‘cancel culture’, and division between family and friends. If we disagree with others, we want to correct them and cut them down with acerbic language. There is a saying, “We judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.” So essentially, we give grace to ourselves because we know we have good intentions, but we distinctly lack understanding for others because we can only see what is on the surface. In this passage, we can see that Jesus intended to give comfort and heal a paralyzed man. This man went from being broken to whole, with a few simple words spoken from Jesus. Unfortunately, the crowd had been quick to make negative assumptions about Jesus. Sometimes when we think we understand others, we don't, and we risk getting in the way of God’s work. After the healing, fear swept through the crowd. I imagine a hushed silence falling over the crowd as Jesus demonstrated He had the ability to back up His words with awe-inspiring action. This Lent, let’s be intentional about taking captive the “evil thoughts in our hearts”. Let’s try to give those around us the grace and understanding we afford ourselves, and more importantly, God affords us– despite knowing all of our intentions and actions, both good and bad.

Angela Dunn Winnipeg, MB

Twelfth Day of Lent

March 15 Matthew 9:14-17

The past two years have been very challenging for the body of Christ. We have been forced to examine our priorities. At various times during the pandemic, we have been forced away from our traditional forms of fellowship and discipleship. Few have thrived in isolation, seeking solace in a retreat and using the quiet separation to meditate and make faith more personal. For a good majority, it has been hard to maintain spiritual discipline away from the formal gatherings of the body of Christ. We face a much different reality as we approach the other side of this global crisis. The Church is wounded and in need of revival. Ritual and comfort that has created patterns of complacency are now challenged. We must find new ways to allow God to fill our cups and soften our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit. From this new energy, we must be willing to create new expressions of our faith and how we engage in the ministry of Christ. As culture shifts and expands, new challenges are created for our faith and the unity of the body of Christ. We must embrace new forms of fellowship and become more intentional about evangelism. As John declared in Matthew 3:12, Jesus is clearing the threshing floor. All that is not fruitful is being destroyed. The chaff has been shaken from the wheat and discarded. It is time to plant new seeds. However, as we are reminded in Matthew 9:14-17, we must be careful not to let our renewed purpose be confined by tired ways of discipleship, fellowship and ministry. As we allow our faith to be restored, we must allow the Spirit to grant us new visions of engaging with and spreading the gospel truths. Pray for new wisdom and understanding that will lead to a reconciliation of the body. This new wisdom and understanding must not be confined to our old ways of thinking. We are challenged to mindfully consider how we engage in discipleship amidst all the changes we have endured. "Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor. 5:7-8.

Scott Beehler Durban, MB

Thirteenth Day of Lent

March 16 Psalm 125

Take a moment to be still. Tell God that you are listening. Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer.

Fourteenth Day of Lent

March 17 Matthew 9:27-34

The topic of blindness is a recurrent theme in the Bible, be it physical blindness or spiritual blindness. In this passage, two blind men have heard rumours of the miracles performed by Jesus. As Jesus is passing through, they recognize this is their opportunity to experience the things they’ve been hearing about.

Despite calling Jesus Son of David and the implied meaning of Jesus being the Messiah, they didn’t immediately get a response from Jesus. When Jesus finally acknowledges their plea, He asks them a question: “Do you believe I can do this?”. Isn’t it obvious that they believe He can heal them? I mean these men are blind; they’ve been pressing in, insisting and persisting in the face of Jesus’ silence and followed Him even when He went indoors. Would they do all of that if they didn’t think He could heal them? Yet there is legitimacy to the question Jesus asks both men. James 1:6-7 tells us that it is quite possible to ask with a heart full of doubt, not believing and not expecting to receive. Jesus here is giving them, and us, the opportunity to proclaim our faith. “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:10). I believe the blind men’s answer to Jesus’ question affirms their strong faith. And how encouraging it is to know that God responds to faith. The Bible says without faith, no one can please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith moves the heart of God. God honours a blind faith, one that believes even when it cannot see in literal and spiritual senses. Consider your biggest challenges. Do you believe that God can hear and answer your prayer? Do you believe that everything is possible with God? Do you believe that God can do this? Lord, give me a blind faith to see you at work in and around me.

Viviane Ndiom Surrey, BC

Fifteenth Day of Lent

March 18 Matthew 11:1-19

I’m sure you can relate to this scenario: You were confident that God was leading you a certain way, and by faith, you made every sacrifice to see it through, only to experience disappointment with God because He didn’t show up or didn’t do what you expected Him to do. Sound familiar?

Could John have felt a similar feeling towards Jesus while sitting in prison? I imagine from his question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect another?” (v.3), he was beginning to wonder if he put his stock in the wrong guy. He gave his life for this Messiah. His wardrobe was camel’s hair. His diet was locusts and honey. He lived in the wilderness, and when Jesus appeared, he even sent his disciples over to Him (Jn 1:37). He gave everything to Jesus. Yet for all he did, his current experience did not meet his expectation! I imagine all of us have tasted disappointment in God. Perhaps John thought that his imprisonment would be temporary. Perhaps he anticipated God’s Kingdom would start showing itself more potently over all the darkness. Unfortunately, he was still in prison, and from that vantage point, the world didn’t look like it was getting any better. So John was left to wonder, “Are you really the Messiah, or should I have looked elsewhere?” Jesus responds to John’s disillusionment in two ways. First, He helps John see past his imprisonment and discouraged lens. Jesus tells John’s disciples to report to him that his life and sacrifices were not in vain: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor…” (v.5). Jesus wanted John to know that the Kingdom has indeed broken through despite John’s sufferings. Secondly, Jesus reaffirms John’s identity to the public and lets John know what God, his Father, thinks of him – not a reed easily swayed, but God’s appointed messenger who is the greatest man born of woman! In our disappointments with God, may we not look elsewhere but continue to look to Christ. May He open your eyes to see the good work He continues to do in and through you while also affirming who you are to Him–His beloved with whom He is greatly pleased.

Edward Lee Mississauga, ON

Sixteenth Day of Lent

March 19 Saturday Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few breaths. Ask God to guide your reflection and prayer in these moments. Ask Him for the grace to be aware of His work in you this past week.

Third Sunday of Lent

Fasting 1: There is harshness in lacking and waiting, but it is made hopeful through the promise of life (#3)

March 20

Seventeenth Day of Lent

March 21 Matthew 12:1-14

Why does God desire mercy? Living out a life full of mercy and compassion will eventually lead us to loving and caring for one another. God’s idea of mercy is this unconditional love bursting with kindness that lives out of understanding forgiveness and compassion. When we choose to live within the posture of mercy, there is no room for judgment. Mercy chooses to forgive and go beyond what is being said and done to us so that we can truly see the person as Jesus sees them. This kind of mercy can only be described as the love expressed on the cross. The greatest commandment of the law in Matthew 22 is to; “love God with all your hearts, love God with all your souls and with all our mind and that you shall love your neighbor as yourselves” in these words, Jesus was drawing together the Old and the New Testament as He was explaining the difference between the old and the new covenant. Jesus told the people that God did not want their sacrifices. He wanted their hearts. He wants our hearts; He wants us to obey Him out of the love we have for Him because of the love He has for us. Following God means that we love Him with our whole hearts and love His people in the same way. In the book of Matthew, Jesus shows us what it means to show compassion by getting involved with a paralyzed man, inviting a tax collector to join Him on His mission, and sitting down to break bread with sinners. This display of radical love in choosing the love of God and the love of people over the rules of religion shook many up. Jesus changed everything, which caused people to look at their relationship with God and one another differently. God desires mercy. God desires us to live out our lives full of compassion. Are we living out a life that is filled with compassion and mercy for each other?

Natasha Westerhoud Breton, AB

Eighteenth Day of Lent

March 22 Matthew 12:22-37

Jesus heals a man both blind and demon-possessed. The crowds are amazed, but the Pharisees charge that Jesus is empowered by evil. Go figure. Jesus critiques the Pharisees' faulty logic by drawing attention to the implausibility of Satan working against himself by casting out his demons. That kind of kingdom operation would surely fail. But Jesus pushes further. His healing is not from an evil source but from the Spirit. He asks: “For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strongman and plunder his goods?” The answer is someone more powerful than the strongman. Who is that? The Pharisees are cornered. By slanderous accusation, they judge that Jesus is empowered by evil, but it is they who stand accused, accused of an unpardonable thought, that the good done by God’s Spirit is, in fact, evil. As Jesus says later in the text, that kind of thinking is the fruit of a bad tree.

I am drawn to this question, however: “Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong person and steal their possessions?” Through the metaphor of strength, Jesus reveals that His healing ministry is not only from the Spirit but is more powerful than the “strong person.” The life and ministry of Jesus could be described as a “breaking in” event where the compassionate, powerful, hopeful, resurrection life is overpowering the perceived dark powers of our world. A week ago, I opened my email and read the news that a dear friend of mine had died because of Covid. He was healthy, vibrant, and strong, but I guess not strong enough against the power of an invisible virus. My heart sank. As I sat there taking in the news, I wondered, as I have wondered so many times before, who is powerful enough to enter the house of death and steal away all the despair? Knowing the answer, of course, does not minimize the grief but gives me a little bit of hope that the last word for my friend, for us, will be life because Jesus is powerful enough. In what way do you need to receive the news that Jesus is present and powerful enough?

Rob Peterson Grand Rapids, MI

Nineteenth Day of Lent

March 23 Psalm 126

Take a moment to be still. Tell God that you are listening. Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer.

Twentieth Day of Lent

March 24 Matthew 13:44-52

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure Jesus tells of one who might be looking for treasure(s) or just stumbles upon a treasure. The finder is overjoyed about this treasure; they hide it again, giving up everything at great expense to buy the field to have a legal claim to the treasure.

The Parable of the Costly Pearl The following parable describes a merchant who has long sought exquisite pearls. Upon finding a perfect pearl, the merchant sells everything to purchase it. Some may not be seeking God or His Kingdom, living lives without thought of eternity. Yet, they stumble upon the Truth through Jesus, receiving answers to questions they had not considered. Others are avidly seeking. They finally find answers in the Kingdom of Heaven. Salvation cannot be purchased. Life in Jesus costs nothing, in the sense of paying for it, but it costs everything in the sense of surrendering your whole will to His because you believe the truth about Him. We commit to daily dying with Jesus so we might rise with Him to new life in His Kingdom. There should be no other pursuit than the Kingdom of Heaven and serving within it. The Parable of the Dragnet Jesus told of a dragnet to gather up fish of every kind. These fish are sorted by angels, with the good kept and the wicked cast into a terrible place. God wants none to perish, but His patience will end, and Jesus will judge. Jesus asks His disciples if they understood the parables, giving opportunity for clarity if needed. They answered they understood. In Matthew 13:52, Jesus tells them (and us) they need to understand the laws God gave to Moses and Israel, the teaching of the Prophets, and Jesus’ teachings. Jesus tells them to continue learning from His Spirit, growing in faith and understanding of the Kingdom. Then, when the World needs to hear the Truth about Jesus, understanding His Salvation, accepting the priceless gift of the Kingdom of Heaven and living in Him, disciples can tell them when and what they need to hear.

Jennifer Fetch Winnipeg, MB

Twenty-First Day of Lent

March 25 Matthew 14:22-46

Things hidden below the surface of a body of water are one of my greatest fears. This irrational fear has been with me from a young age. I can remember as a child watching my dad pull onto shore a concrete buoy that we used to tie our boat to in the lake. At this moment, I was introduced to a demonic species of the animal kingdom–leeches. As I watched this alien-looking creature writhe around that concrete block, my young impressionable mind was scarred. That day, I learned that things below the surface of the water are out to get you. Fast forward to my teen years. I found myself hanging onto the end of a rope, standing at the edge of a platform above a glacial lake in Banff National Park. All I had to do was jump off the platform (while hanging on to the rope), swing out, and free-fall the 15 or so feet into the cold lake below. Mustering up what courage I had, I grabbed the rope, jumped off the platform, and began to swing above the water. At this moment, the beautiful transparent nature of all glacial lakes betrayed me. Below the surface of this lake, I could see a dead tree. Realistically this tree was probably more than 30 feet deep. But with images of leeches and other deep-water creatures lurking around that tree, I made a choice. I was not letting go of that rope for any reason and only gripped it tighter. Expending all kinetic energy from my initial swing, gravity worked to pull me (and the rope I was desperately clutching) back towards the bank of the lake with such force that I was knocked unconscious as I crashed into it. I then fell down into the frigid waters below. Fortunately (but unfortunate for my pride), a crowd was on hand to save me. I empathize with Peter in today’s reading. I know the feeling of mustering up courage, going against everything your mind and body are telling you, and then encountering the irrational fear that being above the water brings. In my experience, stepping out in faith into the unknown has never come with a promise of success. But it has always come with the promise of God’s presence. And I’m learning that His presence means more to me than anything else. Sometimes the risk of not letting go is greater than the risk of stepping out.

Mark Hagen Riondel, BC

Twenty-Second Day of Lent

March 26

Saturday Examen Get into a comfortable position. Take a few breaths. Ask God to guide your reflection and prayer in these moments. Ask Him 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, pause on any difficult or challenging times this week. 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 struggle. Imagine God pouring out His love over you. Pray that God would show you how to respond to the consolation and desolation in your life. Ask Him for His help in responding to His invitation. Share with God any other thoughts or reflections. Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fasting 2: The discipline of fasting produces maturity of character, and provides clarity and light as we focus on “taking on” as well as “giving up”. (#4)

March 27

Twenty-Third Day of Lent

March 28 Matthew 15:1-20

We, humans, have a knack for straining gnats while swallowing camels: we just can’t seem to get our priorities straight. When we come to Matthew 15, we arrive on the heels of a stunning series of events in the ministry of Jesus: John the Baptist is beheaded, five thousand are fed, water is walked on, the suffering are healed. And then we read, after all this, certain Jewish teachers arrive with a complaint about handwashing habits. The context of Jewish tradition can seem foreign to us, making it easy to deflect any conviction here as applicable only for those who get up in arms about church paint colours, worship style, or replacing the pews. Yet it reaches far deeper, for the concerns of these Jewish teachers reflected their hearts: where their hope was grounded, their satisfaction rooted, their confidence secured. And what Christ says to them, in essence, is that their foundation is weak; peer deep enough into their most dogmatic beliefs – as only Jesus can – and what is revealed is inconsistency and, worse, idolatry. What is revealed is not a devotion to the Word, but a devotion which affirmed their desires and set aside that which did not. And how often we do the same, whether we are seeking to preserve our “old-time religion” – willfully ignorant of the issues of our day – or submitting to a new orthodoxy of progressivism as we seek conflation with the world. The call to both is this: a true devotion to Jesus Christ – not an idea, but a person – revealed in the Word which cuts through soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and establishes our foundation in Him. Lent is a time for self-examination, for a Spirit-driven pondering of what God has planted, rooted, and oriented and what has crept in, like vining weeds into a garden. Jesus’ question is a question for us all: “Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

Ben Mast Rainy River, ON

Twenty-Fourth Day of Lent

March 29

Matthew 15:29-39 No one who met Jesus was left untouched. With compassion, Jesus touched broken people and turned their lives around. “All sorts of people in need” came to Jesus on the shores of Lake Galilee and He “healed them. When the people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them.” (The Message) But Jesus wasn’t finished yet. His compassionate heart was moved by the physical hunger of the crowds and He met their hunger in a miraculous way. He took the meager offering of a few loaves of bread and some fish, and He turned that meager offering into abundant provision, with baskets and baskets of leftovers, “Everyone ate. They had all they wanted. It took seven large baskets to collect the leftovers.” Unfortunately, I sometimes join with the disciples asking Jesus, “Where in the world are we going to ‘dig up’ enough people, money, and other resources to do the things you have called us to do?” Like the disciples, I often see only the impossible situation, not the abundant solutions Jesus offers. During these years of Covid, I have wondered how we will get through changing mandates, on and off again worship, size stipulations and all the other things that have made life unpredictable and wearisome. But I have heard Jesus ask over and over again, “How much bread do you have?” Jesus reminds me that He has already given us all we need and what we don’t have He will provide, with baskets and baskets of leftovers – finances to keep our doors open, new equipment to meet the changing needs of becoming a virtual church, gifted people who have stepped into new areas of responsibility, and leaders and staff stepping into areas of need. Jesus has touched me and our church turning meager offerings into abundant provision, and impossible situations have found abundant solutions. Because of what Jesus has done, we are becoming a place where Jesus is “blazing alive” among us!

Heidi Wiebe Strathmore, AB

Twenty-Fifth Day of Lent

March 30 Psalm 127

Take a moment to be still. Tell God that you are listening. Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer.

Twenty-Sixth Day of Lent

March 31 Matthew 16:13-20

As I read through this section of Scripture and imagine myself in the scene as one of the disciples that day, it feels very familiar. It feels like a cabin discussion at camp or a small group gathering among safe and trustworthy friends. The questions start easy but then lead into something more profound and personal. We see the group engaging and answering the first question in verse 14, “’Well,’ they replied, ‘some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.’” This question seems to get more feedback; more people are willing to speak up. Then Jesus asks the second question. He pushes each disciple personally but within a group setting. For many of us, this can be uncomfortable, even with people we love. In this second question, “But who do you say I am?” and the setting in which it takes place, I see a two-part invitation to us. First, to have a personal and unique relationship with Christ. Second, to live that out, sharing it in community. Simon Peter responds to this invitation, and the way Jesus replies in verses 17-19 is incredible. Have you ever experienced something like this? You know without a doubt the answer within you, but no logic, no book, no person handed it over to you. If so, go back to that place and hear Jesus speaking these words from verse 17 over you; “You are blessed, _________ son/daughter of ___________ because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” Even in Jesus' response, He acknowledges both the individual (Simon Peter) and his ties to community (Son of John). Our culture often wants to separate these two, but Jesus keeps them together. The warning given in verse 20 can’t be ignored. After God reveals Himself to us and who He created us to be, we must continue to listen for His timing and placement as we share it with others.

Kyra Barkey Norquay, SK

Twenty-Seventh Day of Lent

April 1

Matthew 16:21-28 “Who do you say I am?” This is the question Jesus poses His disciples just prior to our text for this day. Peter’s confession is, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Yet as a Zealot, Peter’s political interests profoundly shaped his views of what the Messianic agenda ought to be. He expected that Israel’s Messiah would come with a sword, overthrow the oppressive Roman government, and lead Israel to become an independent nation that would flourish. The picture of a suffering servant who would lay down His life on a humiliating symbol of defeat (the Roman cross) did not fit Peter’s concept of a Messiah. Jesus’ rebuke of Peter may seem harsh, but it was necessary for Peter to see his Lord clearly. He did not have the agenda of God in mind but merely his own. We live in a time when we are all tired of the pandemic, mental health issues are exacerbated, relationships are strained, economic stress weighs on us, and we are divided along political lines and on public health mandates. Perhaps we empathize with Peter as we too long for King Jesus to return and make all things right. Reread the passage, imagining yourself in place of Peter. What hopes and expectations of Peter can you resonate with? How do you hear the rebuke and calling of Jesus to His disciples? Who do you say Jesus is? How might you, like Peter, be tempted to impose your agenda on what kind of Messiah Jesus ought to be? Are your expectations of Jesus shaped more by your political views, news outlets, and culture, or by His Word and the community of Jesus around you? Pray and be with Jesus, bringing your concerns, fears, and doubts before Him. Ask Him to show you where you may not have the things of God in mind, but merely human concerns. Confess the ways you knowingly or unknowingly impose your agenda onto Him. Ask Him to gently teach you how to live into His calling in verses 24-25, giving thanks to God.

Rick Penner Nelson, BC

Twenty-Eighth Day of Lent

April 2

Saturday Examen Get into a comfortable position. Take a few breaths. Ask God to guide your reflection and prayer in these moments. Ask Him for the grace to be aware of His work in you this past week.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Generosity 1: There is provision of care, protection and gentleness in dark seasons. (#5)

April 3

Twenty-Ninth Day of Lent

April 4 Matthew 17:14-20

When I was in my early twenties, I got my first teaching assignment. It was a gig no seasoned teacher would have accepted. I had no classroom; instead, my motley crew moved from the conference room to the cafeteria to a small workroom in the back of a class. All 12 of my students had some sort of diagnosed disability. It was a difficult assignment. One student, in particular, I’ll call him Johnny, had suffered things in his short lifetime that no human should ever have to endure. The abuse he lived through had left both his body and his mind broken. On a wintry afternoon, I struggled to help him find success in class. Finally, after trying everything I knew, I paused behind his chair and whispered, “In the name of Jesus, I command you to flee.” He snapped around in his chair and said, in a voice not his own, “What did you just say?” I smiled, said nothing, and went on about my tasks. I couldn’t confess out loud in front of the class that I had just prayed for an evil spirit to depart; I would have lost my job. I knew, at that moment, that a battle was raging over this young man. I’d had the prompting of the Spirit to exercise my faith and believed that Christ would prevail. Johnny’s behaviour for the rest of that day was miraculously different.

Friends, trials are a part of this broken life. Some are far worse than others. Take heart—we have the tools to navigate them when we put our trust in Christ. After Jesus rebuked the demon and restored the boy to health, He said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed,” you can move this mountain (paraphrase mine). May we continue to move throughout this world, believing that nothing is impossible for us until the day that Christ returns and restores all the brokenness to its perfect form.

Tracey Ashley Balfour, BC

Thirtieth Day of Lent

April 5 Matthew 19:16-30

The season of Lent is meant to deepen and refresh our spiritual lives. It causes us to reflect on the nature of Christ and what it means to follow Him. In the Rich Young Ruler story, we learn what it means. We see that the cost is great—but the cost of not following Him is far greater.

The rich young man comes to Jesus with an impressive track record. He has followed every command, completed every good deed, and fulfilled every letter of the law. He believed the key to salvation lied within himself in his heart and mind, achieved through his strength and merit. Yet Jesus, knowing his heart, revealed another way. If this man wanted to be saved, he needed to give all he had to the poor and follow Him. Tragically, however, the man was unwilling to lay down his life, for he found great comfort in his self-sufficiency. To him, the cost of salvation was too great, and he was unable to see that by yielding his life to Christ, the reward of salvation would far outweigh the cost of surrender. Indeed, Christ reveals in this story the unexpected truth that it is precisely through the laying down of life and soul that an imperishable inheritance in the kingdom of God is made ours—eternal heirs with Christ. This is a reward of the highest kind, the reality in which we were created to dwell. The cost of following Jesus in this life is great, no doubt. And yet, the cost of not following Him is even greater. The man recognized the cost but did not realize that he was forfeiting his very soul by holding onto his life. Nothing could save him apart from Christ. As we continue our Lenten journey, may this truth sharpen and encourage us: the cost of following Christ is nothing compared to the life we receive when we lose it, for, in Him, we are indeed the richest of all.

Ireland Mast Rainy River, ON

Thirty-First Day of Lent

April 6 Psalm 130

Take a moment to be still. Tell God that you are listening. Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer.

Thirty-Second Day of Lent

April 7 Matthew 20:20-28

In this passage, we see a poorly timed request from James and John through their mother, who does what most moms do–wanting what she thinks is best for her kids. Jesus, in all His patience and wisdom, asks two questions: what is it you want, and can you drink the cup I am going to drink? Mom and sons get a different answer than what they were expecting. First, although she may not have understood it, Jesus is telling them that her sons will face similar rejection and suffering as He will. He then denies the request; however, they do not understand. But as the disciples are resentful and jealous that these two would even ask for this power, Jesus turns all of it upside down. He gathers all of them, the frustrated 10, the power-seeking brothers, and gives them a bottom line, patient-filled answer, like only Jesus can do. He makes it simple for them in what they would see all the time, Gentile rulers flexing their muscles and flaunting their dominion. He then says, “not so with you,” nope, not you! In keeping with the “mother” theme, picture a mother saying, “you will not be doing that,” not in my house! He explains: to make a place for yourself in the kingdom of heaven, you must become a servant: self-sacrificing, others-focused, not to be served, but serve, “taking our place” which is both a lesson for those who were gathered and us as well as a fulfillment of what He would soon do for us all. Do we really imagine what being a servant looks like in reading this? We are in a world that tells us to seek power, money, self, individualism and materialism as the ways to get ahead. Servant living continues to be a radical way to live; it turns everything upside down. Servants? Seriously? How can we live that out in action? We know that what Jesus did was radical, and we should expect that this upside-down living out of the kingdom is radical as well. Reflect today on how Jesus is calling you to live out His radical instruction of servant leadership.

Kim Delp Ecuador

Thirty-Third Day of Lent

April 8 Matthew 21:28-30

What if I’m the Pharisee? I have been attending church from the time I was in the nursery to this last Sunday playing on the worship team. My parents taught me to read my Bible, and my pastors taught me to pray. All my life, I’ve been told to look for myself in the characters of the Bible and learn from them - from the Israelites wandering in the desert to the twelve disciples and even Jesus Himself. But what if I - a white, private-school educated, middle-class young adult living in a wealthy and stable country - am most like the Pharisees? In Matthew 21:23-32, Jesus is confronted by chief priests in the temple. They challenge Him with their philosophical and well-studied questions. I, too, have spent four years in a Christian university reading systematic theology, and debating miniscule details of Christian ethics. And just like the chief priests, I have the right answers. In verse 31, the priests say that the second son in the parable did God’s will because he repented and was obedient. On the other hand, the first son said he would obey God but doesn’t actually do God’s will. I have the textbook answers, just like these chief priests. However, when these priests get the right answer, Jesus tells them that the lowest of society - the sinners - will enter heaven before them. Knowing in your head what is right doesn’t matter if you don’t do it. The Pharisees are the first son. Which one are you? Perhaps there is a time and place for debating ethics and philosophy. But look around! Our society is so divided, angry, and full of the self-righteous (even in church). So let’s stop debating and start listening. The Pharisees and chief priests knew the Bible forward and backward, and yet they still couldn’t manage to love their neighbour. So what will we do differently? By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 1John 3:16

Sophia Splane Langley, BC

Thirty-Fourth Day of Lent

April 9 Saturday Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few breaths. Ask God to guide your reflection and prayer in these moments. Ask Him for the grace to be aware of His work in you this past week.

Andy Sebanc Surrey, BC

Sixth Sunday of Lent

April 10

Generosity 2: There is joy in the harvest and giving in abundance. (#6)

Thirty-Fifth Day of Lent

April 11 Matthew 22:41-45

Jesus knew His mission clearly because He was the Messiah. The text Jesus is quoting here is from Psalm 110, in which David calls the Messiah "Lord," but this contradicts the Old Testament accounts in 2 Samuel and Isaiah, that the Messiah is a descendant of David. Since David called the Messiah "Lord," the ethics and logic of the time said that the Messiah should not be his son, but the prophets did predict that the Messiah would come from David's son. The Pharisees couldn't explain this. But if the Pharisees had faith in the Bible and analyzed this paradoxical relationship, they could see two attributes of the Messiah. First, according to the prophets, the Messiah had to be descended from David. Second, according to the psalms, the Messiah is superior to David and divine because David called Him ‘Lord’ with a capital ‘L’. Although the Pharisees could not explain this relationship, Jesus tells us the truth about the Messiah. I believe Jesus said this partly to explain the nature of the Messiah and partly to explain the Pharisees who had asked Him, "which of the commandments of the law is the greatest?" We need context to have a correct understanding of Scripture. If the answer is based on the Pharisees' question, there should be only one answer, but Jesus gave them two greatest commands. One of them is to God, and the other is to man. Because they believed that the most important thing was to love God, Jesus told them that it was equally important to love others and that only the combination of these two commandments was the general outline of the law. Jesus points out through the law that 'to love God' and 'to love man' should be combined to be considered a complete love. It is the 'general outline of the law', which leads to the idea that the Messiah is not only 'God' but also ' a man, the characteristic of these "two natures", “fully God” and “fully man.”

James Yu Richmond Hill, ON

Thirty-Sixth Day of Lent

April 12 Matthew 26:36-45

I resonate so much with Jesus’ prayer in the garden, amidst great suffering. ‘If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me…’ (Matthew 26:39). Or more specifically, as it is rephrased as the deep cry of: ‘If there is any other way?!’. There are moments in this life and call God has me on that I feel far from the beginning stage excitement (where the joy was palpable), and I feel the weight of the hard. Whether it’s coming to the opposition, feeling the loneliness and fears of pioneering, or my brokenness overwhelms me, I wonder about this path and whether an easier route was available. Like those old ‘choose your own adventure books, I am tempted to skip back a few pages and change my mind about my choice. I tend to wonder if God made the wrong choice in me or if I chose wrong as well. I plea with God in my weakness, asking Him for another way. In many ways, it would be so much easier to know what's beyond this present trial and have the assurance that it’s all going to work out, and that could be reason enough for this hardship. It is such a vulnerable place to be. Even in the knowing, Jesus models to us a deep sense of vulnerability and intimacy with the Father. Maybe to participate with God is to participate in vulnerability? Jesus’ prayer ends with the submission of “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Amid trials, uncertainty and questions, what does it mean to say: “Even so, I only desire to fulfill your plan for me?” First, it takes firm trust in God's character and that His plans for me are ultimately good. Then comes obedience. And not simply because I am too far along to turn back now. It's a posture of being open to whatever is on the other side of the veil of certain difficulties. Then a conviction to keep pressing in and moving forward. A decision to embrace the vulnerability of this season because it is worth risking it all. His is a path worthy to be on. Think about an area of your life where you would like God to take suffering from you. Then, invite the Holy Spirit into that pain and ask Him to reveal an aspect of His character (i.e. God sees me) that you can cling to in hope during this season.

Jessica Hagen Riondel, BC

Thirty-Seventh Day of Lent

April 13 Psalm 131

Take a moment to be still. Tell God that you are listening. Read the text. Don’t worry about finding meaning or application. Psalms are prayers, simply read the prayer.

Thirty-Eighth Day of Lent Maundy Thursday

April 14 Matthew 26:47-56

This story feels so familiar, so easy to put in a box out of sight, labelled ‘Jesus’ Arrest’. A sad historical moment when Judas betrayed his rabbi. Instructive for a timeline of Jesus’ passion week. Or to glimpse Jesus’ self-understanding as the Son of God, come to fulfil the words of ancient Hebrew prophets. Or to find strong support for Christian pacifism. Tuning in to Jesus’ questions ushers me into the present with God. “Friend, why have you come?” Or, “Why this charade?” Why do I come to Jesus today? How might I be trying to put up a facade? What am I willing to do when life is not meeting my expectations or when I don’t understand what’s happening? Like Judas or the disciple who pulled his sword, how do I attempt to take matters into my own hands and force the outcome I want? I would not endorse violence as a productive way to respond to any situation. But I must confess Jesus’ Spirit has shown me times when I treated myself or other people with the violence of heart or tongue, manipulating without using my fists. “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” Where am I blind to the truth that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth? How is Jesus inviting me, inviting you, to trust more fully in our Father’s loving care, with all the uncertainties of our human condition? Will we depend on Jesus’ Spirit to help us put our complete confidence in God’s promises to make all things new? Let us follow Jesus on His beautiful cruciform path, praying, “Not my will, but Your will be done,” and seeking God’s kingdom. Let us rely on the Holy Spirit’s gracious presence and strength as we join in God’s work to wipe every tear from every eye.

Steve Waldschmidt Saskatoon, SK

Thirty-Ninth Day of Lent Good Friday

April 15 Matthew 27:45-56

Darkness for three hours. And then this, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These are the last words of Christ until His final breath or cry. These are the words that evoke my greatest sorrow on Good Friday. Alone in the dark. How can this be? Jesus is my God; how can He have been forsaken? These are the words that cause me to look inward. If God, who was bound by love to His only Son, had to endure this horrible rupture, it was not done for a small reason. If Jesus, who had known the close love of His Father, had to endure the abandonment of death, it was for no small reason. It was for me. It was for me, and it brought triumph over all the treachery and evil found in the world. Somehow my rescue from the evil one provoked this. I’m not sure I was worth it. I stray too often even though I know what it cost my beloved Jesus, my God. But these words also remind me of the wonderful grace extended to me at the cross. I am reminded that Jesus did not come to condemn me but to rescue me and allow me to become part of God’s great plan to establish God’s kingdom on earth. My deep sorrow dissolves like mist at the foot of the cross. Like the watching centurion, I say, “Truly this is God’s Son,” and I thank God for His grace. May you also know the freedom found at that cross of sorrow and grace.

Linea Lanoie Prince Albert, SK

Fortieth Day of Lent Holy Saturday

April 16 Saturday Examen

Get into a comfortable position. Take a few breaths. Ask God to guide your reflection and prayer in these moments. Ask Him for the grace to be aware of His work in you this past week.

Easter Sunday

April 17

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Resurrection: In this final piece, all of the parts of our stories are brought together and the constant thread of Jesus’ redemptive presence and care is revealed as He draws us into His grand narrative. He has conquered death! Even as we look forward to glimpses of glory becoming our heavenly reality, Jesus sits in the earthly darkness with us, resurrecting these individual darknesses into fruit-bearing seasons. (#7)

Notes:

Printed copies of the Lenten Reader are made possible by funding from Trellis Foundation. We are grateful for their support of this discipleship initiative in the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. www.trellisfoundation.ca

PO Box 2247 Strathmore, AB T1P 1K2 Ph. 403-324-9552 | office@covchurch.ca Editors: Julia Sandstrom Hanne Pihowich