Lenten Devotions
On the Way: Following Jesus on the Road to the Cross
Introduction
Every year in Lent we are called to discern what it means for us to follow Jesus. On Sundays in this year A of the lectionary, we hear mainly portions of the Gospel of John and thus we do not learn what the Gospel of Matthew tells us on the subject. Therefore, our Lenten devotions this year will see us following Jesus on his road towards the cross according to the gospel of Matthew.
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.” (Matthew 19:1) With these words Matthew sets Jesus off on the road towards Jerusalem and the cross. Each week we will read, silently or aloud, portions of the gospel that take us to Jerusalem and the events of the last week of Jesus’ life.
We will listen to and/or sing songs based on the journey. We will ask ourselves questions about how these readings relate to our lives now. It will be up to you to decide how deeply you wish to ponder these readings. Some may wish to delve into related passages in other gospels. Others will stay with the Matthew texts. This is your devotion- you decide.
Each year I set up a Lenten equivalent of the Advent wreath. I use a small wooden figure that moves along a pathway I create of sand and wooden blocks to mark each week. You may wish to make such a path in your own way. Another possibility is having 6 candles- all lit in week one, and one put out until on Good Friday they are all extinguished and on Easter Sunday they are all lit! Perhaps you will walk around your house or yard or?...and as you read, stop occasionally to pray. Play around with ideas of how you might make this Lenten journey stick in your mind throughout each day.
The first week of devotions will begin on Ash Wednesday (February 18) and each week will change on the Wednesday. Sundays are omitted as Sundays are not included in the forty days of Lent.
