Return to Lenten Meditations

Lent 2022: Learning to Live With God...
"Not my will but Thy will be done"

Lent is a time of preparation for the Paschal mystery, when we awaken more fully to the reality of resurrection life. When we realize that God is at the center of all life, the self-denial traditionally associated with Lent becomes,  ultimately, a process of self-fulfillment. Following Christ, we come to understand and experience our selfhood as intimately part of God's nature. Below, you will find material and practices offered with love by members of the Trinity community for your Lenten journey. Use the links sent in our Tuesday emails for new material, or just visit the website and browse at your pace. As we consider the overarching theme of these Lenten Meditations, we invite you to join us in using this Prayer to help you be more receptive to God's guidance in your life:  

Make known to me Your ways, O Lord;
teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth,
and teach me.
​~Psalm  25:4-5

Meditations, Week 3
Collect and Readings, Third Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Link to readings:   Exodus 3:1-15, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8

Offered by members of the Trinity Community...

Whose woods are these...

Submitted by Ann Hubben

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Nature's Respite

As I look out my window this bright sunny day
The bleak colors of winter, dark brown and gray.
The flora’s all turned to a dead dirty brown,
Blighting all color and making me frown.
Though the sky is electrically brilliantly blue,
The deep freeze of January dismisses their hue
The colors of spring soon will return.
The bleakness of winter chooses to spurn
Afraid that rebirth will remove Winter’s turn.

But suddenly, I see a dry branch of a bush,
A speck of red, standing out with a blush.
A lone male cardinal sits on the branch
Hoping to find a lady to snatch.
This tiny red bird in the back of my yard
shows me that miracles are not always hard.
I look out my window and break into a smile
seeing feelings of joy that were gone for a while,
These deadening thoughts that life makes so dull
that I’ve missed nature’s wonders that will never be null.

Practice:
Take a walk outside, once on a cloudy day, and once on a sunny day. Note the muted colors of winter. Praise God when you notice the bright colors of spring appearing in crocus, Lenten rose, and daffodils.

​Submitted by Heather Koelle

A Meditation on the readings for the 3rd Week of Lent

The lessons for the third Sunday in Lent are “hard readings”.
In 1st Corinthians Paul is reminding the believers of God’s judgments on Israel when they tested God, grumbled and behaved immorally. He warns them against too much self-confidence.
In Luke, Jesus tells his listeners that they should not think themselves above others who have suffered a great calamity. He warns them of judgment unless they repent.
He continues with the parable of the fig tree. After three unfruitful years the owner wishes to cut it down.
These reminders of God’s judgment of our shortcomings might leave us fearful. This isn’t God’s goal. His goal is our repentance and wholeness.
Paul follows his warnings with the observation that our temptations are common, and he promises that God will not overwhelm us with tests.
In Jesus’ parable, an advocate steps in to save the fig tree for at least one more year. We have that advocate in Jesus himself.
Psalm 63 expresses the response to God’s goodness:
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”
“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings”.
Today, may we choose to experience God’s strength in the face of trial, the confidence of his grace and the loving response to his goodness.
Submitted by David Clemmer