The Bible In A Year
Lent – Pentecost Week 2 of 17
March 4-9, 2019
Readings for the Week
Theme of the week: transitioning into Lent
Monday -Psalm 119
Tuesday – Mardi Gras! -The entire Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon)
Wednesday – Ash Wednesday -The book of Joel ,Psalm 51
Thursday -Psalm 27, Proverbs chapters 3, 4 & 5
Friday -Proverbs chapters 6, 7, 8 & 9
Saturday -Proverbs chapters 10, 11 & 12
The Bible In A Year
Lent – Pentecost Week 2 of 17
The Christian Year
The season of the Christian Year known as “Epiphany” begins on the 12th day of Christmas and continues until the start of Lent. The season of Lent begins on a different date each year, therefore the length of the season of Epiphany changes – from as short as just 5 Sundays to as much as 9 Sundays.
The final Sunday of Epiphany is called “Transfiguration Sunday.” It honors the gospel story, told in the synoptic gospels, of Elijah & Moses meeting with Jesus on a mountain top and God’s voice declaring Jesus to be the beloved son of God. Notice the symbolism of Elijah, the greatest prophet, and Moses, the great liberator and giver of the law, meeting with Jesus. God declares Jesus to be the direct son, and the presence of Elijah & Moses confirms their acceptance of this to be true.
The season of Lent begins on a Wednesday, which we have come to call “Ash Wednesday.” Lent is the most somber season of the Christian year. The liturgical color is purple, a deep, dark color, symbolic of the state of our meditations during this time. The season is 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays, for the somber mood of Lent cannot be the primary factor at worship on Sunday, as each Sunday’s worship is a reminder of Christ’s resurrection and triumph over the forces of evil and destruction. The forty days mirror the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry. In the early church, this was a time to prepare people for baptism and membership in the church. During this season each believer is asked to undertake a deep assessment of the state of their soul and reflect on their need for the grace of God which is ours through Christ Jesus.