Choices Jesus Made: A Lenten Reflection for 2025
March 23 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
The Temptation in the Wilderness and the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew, Mark and Luke
Fr. Hart Roussel, Facilitator
Description: Jesus made choices; choices rooted in his trust in the promises of the Lord God. In the wilderness, Jesus faced the promises of the devil and committed, with perfect trust, to the promises of the Lord God. These choices compelled him to proclaim the reign of God, guided his daily life, shaped his relationships with the people, cultures and economies of his day, and strengthened him during adversity. The consequences of these choices also led him to the cross.
What are these choices? Why are they important for us today? How are they a mirror in which we see our broken and most beloved selves? During two sessions, we will explore and pray over two transformational narratives in the synoptic Gospels: the temptation in the wilderness and Jesus giving us his personal prayer with his Abba, his Father and ours.
Session One: We will explore the words, context and meaning (then and now) of these two Gospel stories. Using a format like Lectio Divina, we will read silently, say out loud, and practice hearing the words of these Gospel stories. The session closes with simple instructions for individual/domestic homework for Session Two.
Session Two: Having taken time over the last two weeks to encounter the temptation in the wilderness and the Lord’s Prayer on our own, we will gather to share, reflect and pray with our encounters with these two Gospel narratives.
- Sunday, March 9: Session One hosted at St. Andrew’s. After the 11:00 am service, ending by 1:30 pm. Parish Hall.
- Sunday, March 23: Session Two hosted at St. Andrew’s. After the 11:00 am service, ending by 1:30 pm. Parish Hall.
