Lent - A Season of Reflection and Prayer
On Ash Wednesday, as we began the season of Lent, each student was given a reflection journal to be used during worship. The inside of the journal says the following:
“At Mustard Seed School, we take time at Lent to listen carefully to God’s word, to pray in word and in image, to examine our own lives, and to give to and forgive others. Each day, as we follow the life of Christ from before Jesus’ birth to his crucifixion, we listen to a portion of scripture, reflect upon a work of art, and respond."
This year, we follow the life of Christ as it has been related in the Gospel of Luke. The reflections begin with the angel’s annunciation to Mary and conclude with the Lamentation of the disciples, along with the story of Jesus’ celebration of the Passover, which hints at the resurrection that will take place in just three days.
In most stories, we see how Jesus encounters one person after another, changing each life. Early on, Jesus encounters Shepherds and the Kings, Old Simeon and the Doctors at the Temple, and then John the Baptist. As we follow Jesus we listen as he meets his Disciples, Nicodemus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We also see Jesus meet so many without names - the woman at the well, the sinful woman, the bent over woman, the blind man, the ten lepers, and the children. We even see Jesus meet Moses and Elijah. In every encounter, a heart is moved and healed, sins are forgiven, and a life is forever changed. In many ways, each story is a remembering of the first story in which God asks to enter the life of young girl and she says yes. After that, things are never the same.
Jesus comes to us and acts boldly, moved by love - and so we are moved, enlightened, forgiven, empowered, blessed, healed, cleansed, and given new life in him.”
As we read scripture and see how the word of God is illuminated in pieces of art, we draw near to God and await the new life that comes with Easter and the resurrection.
"The Feeding of the Five Thousand" by John Reilly