Introduction & Anticipation | Lent 2026

 

Saturday, February 14. 

Welcome to a collaborative effort to reflect and prepare before we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus during Lent 2026 (starting Ash Wednesday, February 18).  The Catholic Church follows the Revised Common Lectionary Year A, featuring readings from Genesis, Psalms, Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew for Sundays, we will focus on themes like temptation, covenant, and new life, with daily readings following a two-year cycle, with specific passages from Jonah, Isaiah, and prophets like Ezekiel for weekdays leading to Easter, offering a rich spiritual journey for reflection on sin, forgiveness, and resurrection. 

I pulled the Catholic liturgial readings to provide structure and trusting that those scriptures will prepare our minds and hearts to engage in this literugy AND enjoy a deeper appreciation for the resurrection.

Thank you for reading and engaging.  The plan is to release a new devotional each day, sometimes with a song aligned to themes in the daily readings.

Joel 2:12-13 is a guiding passage for Lent.  My hope is that we change internally.  Let us shift from outward actions to deeper, heart-level fulfillment of God's will being done, through us, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen?  Amen.

I lead this effort because I deeply want to grow as a person, a soul in many roles, and I love the season of creativity I find myself in.  I believe liturgies are a core category to explore as we try to live well in all our roles.  

I must admit, even though I was raised Catholic, I never leaned in to this time.  It seemed too austere and intimidating.  Certainly, nothing like the Christmas season is enjoyed.  Now, 50-ish years later, I think this season and liturgy with the odd name, Lent, is perfect for our time.  Never has our attention been so in need of quiet reflection, our hearts so ragged from news, division, worries, and harassing distraction.

I hope to make this simple,  focusing on stillness, silence, and doses of solitude.  Consider these lenten categories again: 

temptation: choices that we are currently faced with that we sense or know good and well don't align with our values nor the person of Jesus, God's will and word in the flesh.

covenant: our commitments we make with others, and that have been promised to us

new life: the novel and new, and made new

sin:  ways we violate the good, the true and the beautful in others (offense) and in ourselves (disintegration, the opposite of integrity) both willifully and unknowingly

forgiveness: simply put, this is SO good to remember and reflect upon.. the need we have of the forgiveness of others, especially God; and the deep need we have to let go of the sin, tresspass, and debt against us.  Whew.. both sides (needing and offering forgiveness is SO hard)

and resurrection: Jesus is Lord, He is risen!  That means everything.  I used to think that Lent meant pretending I didn't know Jesus rose, and then trying to act surprised somehow on Easter.  in short, many (including me) misunderstand the HOW and the WHY of Lent. I am still researching and learning... and now, sharing my learning with you all.

Very different from themes of Christmas, and far from bunnies and eggs and pastels, right?  That's the point.  There is a reason for every season, and I believe we need this season as much as a time of giftgiving or celebration of spring. Lent offers unique blessing in the form of more slowness, fasting in some cases, and reflection on ourselves and our impact on the world at large and our close relationships.  Just what the world needs right now, if you ask me!

Which of the bolded words are popping for you today?  Comment below.

That's enough for today.  Thank you for reading... tomorrow we'll get into the WHAT and WHY and maybe some of the HOW of Lent.  I'm glad you are here, reading along.