Introduction

The other day Andrea found 4-year-old Eliana carefully adding a lint roller to the bag she was packing for an overnight visit to Mimi and Papa’s.  Asked why, Eliana patiently explained to her mother that she was going to church with Mimi and Papa the next day.  Since it was getting close to lint she wanted to be helpful, and she thus felt the lint roller might come in handy.

While we as adults may have ironed (rolled?) out the distinction between “lint” and “Lent,” sometimes we’re less aware of the spiritual importance of setting aside time to focus on the traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and service.  Christians have observed Lent as a time of preparation before the Easter season since at least the fourth century.  The forty days of Lent remind us of Jesus’ forty days in the desert and of Moses’ forty days on Mount Sinai.  This is a time of simplicity, of renewal and of preparation.  We hope this devotional can serve as a tool for your own Lenten journey.

These devotions are based upon the gospel readings assigned for each Sunday in the narrative lectionary.  Readings for Monday through Wednesday reflect on the previous week’s passage; readings for Thursday through Saturday anticipate next Sunday.  (We take a break on Sundays to focus on church.)  

Here's the complete list of readings we'll be using:

•  Ash Wednesday (February 13): Luke 9:51-62
• First Sunday in Lent (February 17): Luke 10:25-42
• Second Sunday in Lent (February 24): Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
•  Third Sunday in Lent (March 3): Luke 15:1-32
• Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 10): Luke 16:19-31
• Fifth Sunday in Lent (March 17): Luke 18:31-19:10
• Palm Sunday (March 24): Luke 19: 29-44
•  Maundy Thursday (March 28): Luke 22:1-27
•   Good Friday (March 29): Luke 23:32-47
• Easter (March 31): Luke 24:1-16