The Greening of Lent
Reflections on Sunday Lectionary readings for Cycle C as they relate to environment stewardship
This is not an attempt to do a complete exegesis of the readings but to suggest some ways that we may
reflect on our environment and how we are to care for it through those readings.
First Sunday of Lent
Second Sunday of Lent
Deuteronomy 26: 4-10
God's gifts to us are so plentiful. Like the
people in Deuteronomy, we too have been given
a land “flowing with milk and honey.” How
grateful are we for the gifts of the earth which
God has given us? How do we care for our earth
especially the gifts of air and water?
Genesis 15: 5-18
Abraham was given a land by God, and
God makes a covenant with him and his people.
God has given us the world as gift. We are
entrusted to care for this world by God. Do we
realize that as God was committed to Abraham,
God is committed to us in our efforts to sustain
the land? Like Abraham, do we trust and have
faith in God promises to us? As we contemplate
the problems in our environment today, do we
remember God's promises to us? Do we act on
God's promises with faith and trust?
Luke 4: 1-13 (Jesus enters the desert and is
tempted three times)
The First temptation is to turn these
stones into bread. We live in a land where there
is a superabundance of food. What is our attitude
towards this abundance? Do we have so much
food that gluttony becomes a problem? Are we
attentive to the problems of over packaging of
our food which can lead to pollution? Are we
aware that transportation of food from long
distances adds to the problem of pollution?
The Second temptation is a temptation to
power. Jesus is offered all the kingdoms of the
world. Does our consumer society and its
abundance drive us up the status ladder? Do we
equate more “stuff” with more power? What is
our attitude towards consumerism? Do we
compromise our values in the acquisition of
material things?
The third temptation is a temptation to
sensationalism. “Angels will catch you.” Do we
rely on something sensational to save our world
or do we all do our part? Do we realize that it
will take hard work from all of us to repair our
earth? Do we realize how important our
individual roles are in caring for the earth and
that there is just slow steady work from all of us
that will heal our world.
Psalm 91
This psalm calls on us to trust in God's
presence at all times in our lives. God is with us
in our work to heal our world.
Luke 9: 28-36
The disciples are present with Jesus on
the mountain top in the experience of his
Transfiguration. They are given a glimpse of the
future where they will be the people who carry
on Jesus' ministry. Do we remember that we are
partakers in Jesus mission? Do we realize that
part of this mission is caring for the world? The
transfiguration points towards the future glory of
the Resurrection.
Can we see with eyes of faith, a resurrected
land, free from environmental degradation?
Psalm 27
The psalm says that “I shall see the
goodness of God in the land of the living.” do we
look at our land and see the goodness of God?
Third Sunday of Lent
Exodus 13: 1-15
God is identified as “I Am Who I Am.”
One translation of this expression is “The One
Who Creates.” Do we care for what God has
created?
Moses experiences the power of God in
fire, a natural experience. Can we experience the
power of God in creation?
God is compassionate and the people will
be set free from bondage. Are we held in
bondage by the ways we misuse our
environment? Does caring for the earth release
us from this bondage?
Moses is invited to act on God's call.
How are we to answer God's call to heal our
world? How is God breaking through to talk to
us today in the crisis our world is in?
Moses courageously moved into new and
uncharted territory to lead God's people to
freedom. How are we called today to possibly
look at new ways to live in our world?
Luke 13: 1-9
If the fig tree is to bear fruit and survive,
it must be cultivated and fertilized. How do we
cultivate and feed our faith today? How do we
cultivate and feed our world to keep it healthy?
We are challenged to leave the path of sin
and live according to God's grace. Is the misuse
of our earth sinful? How do we live in God's
grace regarding the ways we treat our world?
God is nurturing and patient with us. We
respond to this by making life-giving choices.
What life-giving choices can we make regarding
our world?
Psalm 103
The psalm reminds us that it is God who
forgives, heals, redeems, and works justice for
all. In response to this, how are we called to act
towards our world?
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Joshua 5: 9-12
The people finally make it to the
Promised Land after a forty year struggle in the
desert. They celebrate with a Passover feast how
God has provided for the people as God
promised. How do we celebrate the freedom we
have as God's children. How do we celebrate the
many ways God cares for us? As we celebrate,
are we aware that there are many in the world
who have so little while we have so much?
Luke 15:1-3, 9-12
The younger son wastes all his resources
in “dissolute living” How do we care for the
resources that God has given to us? Are we
sometimes guilty of wasting these resources?
This parable which Jesus tells is of
conversion, repentance, and forgiveness. How
can we enter into this process regarding the ways
we treat the earth?
We rejoice in God's goodness. Do we get
depressed over the treatment of our earth today,
or do we rejoice because God is healing the
world through us.
Psalm 34
The psalm reminds us that God hears and
answers our prayers. Do we trust God's presence
with us as we attempt to pray for and care for our
world?
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Isaiah 43: 16-21
God asks us to look forward with hope
not backward. God will do a “new thing.”
Do we look forward in hope concerning our
environment? How do we engage in a “new
thing” concerning our environment?
God will send “rivers of water” into the
desert. God's gifts are abundant. How thankful
are we for God's “rivers of water?”
John 8: 1-11
Jesus asked the crowd if there is anyone
among them who has not sinned. Is there anyone
among us who has not misused God's gifts at
times?” How is God calling us to repent of the
ways we treat our world?
Jesus is totally compassionate to the
woman. How do we show the compassion of
Jesus to others? How compassionate are we to
our world?
Jesus challenges the woman to sin no
more. How is God challenging us regarding our
environment today?
Jesus called forth something new from
the woman. What newness is God calling forth
from us regarding our environment today?
Psalm 126
There is a prayer here for restoration in
this psalm. Can we pray for the restoration of
God's earth?
Prepared by Deacon Ron MacLellan