I love all the seasons of the Christian calendar, for they are reminders of the story and celebration of Jesus (his birth, life, ministry, passion, death and resurrection). Additionally, I love all these seasons because there is a spiritual rhythm to the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost/Time after Pentecost. Each season models the life and Jesus and his ministry through the work of the apostles and the early church. The seasons of Christian calendar are informed by the Bible and are celebrated through corresponding scripture which models the life of Jesus and his ministry. After all, we are Jesus' disciples! Therefore, the seasons of the Christian year help us organize our worship and study of God's Son and the work of the Holy Spirit through Christ and the Church. As the hymn says, "We are pilgrims on a journey..." And this is certainly the case throughout the Christian year. We are sojourners, every day, as we carry our own crosses. In this way, we share God's love and healing through the power of Christ's death and subsequent resurrection.
Starting on Wednesday, March 5th, we will enter into the season of Lent ("spring"), a time when the Church focuses inwardly on the need for confession, repentance, study, prayer, fasting and reflection. It is a 40-day period (starting with Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday) that mimics Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness (when and where he was tempted by the Devil). With this wilderness narrative as the backdrop for the season of Lent, we, too, are called to intentionally focus on turning back to God during this time of prayerful, humble introspection. Many give up something that has kept them from centering their lives on Jesus while others begin new practices of Bible study and prayer. Yet, whatever the individual choice might be, Lent gives believers the opportunity to be intentional in seeking Jesus, his cross, and his selfless attitude that reflects the importance of the Great Commandment: to love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength and to love our neighbor as we meekly love ourselves.
During this season of Lent, I'm so excited to share that our congregation will have the opportunity to journey to the cross together by reading/studying the Gospel of Luke (four chapters a week for the six weeks of Lent). Each week during Lent you'll have the chance to read/study four chapters in Luke while using an accompanying workbook (digital and printed versions) to help walk you through these chapters. Additionally, there will be livestream workshops to reinforce the workbook questions (more details about the workbook and workshops will be provided the week of Sunday, March 2nd). Currently, here is the Gospel of Luke reading/study schedule for Lent 2025:
Mar. 9 (1st Sunday in Lent) - Luke 1-4
Mar. 16 (2nd Sunday in Lent) - Luke 5-8
Mar. 23 (3rd Sunday in Lent) - Luke 9-12
Mar. 30 (4th Sunday in Lent) - Luke 13-16
Apr. 6 (5th Sunday in Lent) - Luke 17-20
Apr. 13 (6th Sunday in Lent - Palm Sunday) - Luke 21-24
Meanwhile, I'll be preaching from the biblical texts of Joshua, Psalms, Luke and John during each Sunday in Lent. Each of these passages will serve as a window through which we can witness God's truth at work in our lives. As we are called to pursue the cruciform life (Matt. 16:24), these sermons during Lent will teach us about worship, trust, humility, suffering and sacrifice. All of these traits are met in the person of Jesus Christ, the heart and soul of the Gospels. I think it will be such a joy to observe how our readings and the sermons will parallel at various times during Lent. The following questions can prepare us for the Gospel readings ahead of us: What is God wanting us to see about His Son? What is Jesus teaching us about compassion through his interactions with the least of these? What does it mean to embody justice? How are we to speak the truth in love while learning to obey? What does it mean to stand up for God's truth even when it's difficult to do so? How does suffering show us the heart of God and His everlasting love for us? What do we learn about Jesus' last days on earth and how must his example impact our witness?
You will have access to the Lent 2025 Workbook (printed and/or digital versions) and you'll have the opportunity to join me and others for livestream workshops during Lent, also. The workbook will guide you through each week of Lent, offering a brief prayer, seven questions related to that week's particular chapters, and some space to write down your thoughts/reflections. These same weekly questions will be revisited during the livestream workshops. Therefore, both the workbook and workshops will reinforce what Jesus is teaching us in the Gospel of Luke and how we, too, are called to journey to Holy Week with him--denying ourselves, taking up our own crosses, and following Christ.
I can't wait to see you and study Jesus as we peruse Luke's Gospel together during Lent. May the Lord change us, reform us, and create in us pure hearts that seek to love God and others in ways that compel us to serve our fellow brothers/sisters and our community through the power of the Holy Spirit. May this be our prayer, in Jesus' name...not only during Lent, but during all the seasons of the Christian year.
So, you're invited to experience Lent 2025 with us at UBC. May our individual and collective reflections during our reading of Luke's Gospel cause us to love, obey and serve him more willingly, more joyfully and more consistently. And, let us offer our very best to the Savior whose cross brings us life. Therefore, may God draw us nearer to the heart of Christ with every verse of every chapter we read and study in the Gospel of Luke this Lenten season...to the glory of the Lamb of God, our Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of the world.
Amen!
Let our reflections on Luke's Gospel serve as our grateful act of praise to God!
><> Pastor Will <><
John 3:30
