A Lenten Pilgrimage 2026

Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs Isaiah 44:1-8, Psalm 87, 1 Peter 2:4-10, John 17:6-19 As we embark upon the eleventh day of Lent, let’s reflect on turning to God and recommit to enter a closer relationship with God. Every Lent for me is different as I face different challenges and God reveals areas of my life where I need to shed the layers that separate me from him. As I read the readings for today, I was unsure where to go. In the reading I found reassurance that God has chosen each one of us to be his people, “I belong to the Lord” from Isaiah confirms that reassurance. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 also reaffirms what I need to do.  Two separate elements were used in the readings, water and stones.  I recalled a hike I took up to see the waterfall at Tahquitz Canyon. Imagine what the water means to the peop...

  Ezekiel 18:21-24, 30-32   But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. . . .  Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which they are guilty and the sin they have committed, they shall die.   . . .   . . Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spi...

  “Courage calls to courage everywhere”- Millicent Garrett Fawcett Gen 39:1-23; Ps 138; Mt 7:7-12    As we enter this Lenten season, I’m not sure my desire to be well-informed and my desire to stay sane have ever been at greater odds. While reading the news and listening to podcasts covering national and international politics feels important and necessary, the negative impact it can have on my mood and outlook cannot be ignored. In today’s liturgical readings, the phrases like, in my alarm I said, ‘Everyone is a liar’ (Psalm 116:11)  and Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves (Luke 10:3) seem a prescient warning of our current times. Everywhere we look, there is blatant dishonesty amongst those who claim to lead and active disenfranchisement of those who wish to set things right. Like psalmists of old, we walk in the midst of trouble (Psalm 138:7)  often overcome by distress and sorrow (Psalm 116: 3). As author Jonathan Edward Durham more recently put...

Gen 17:3-9; Ps 105:1-9; Jn 8:51-59 As for me  …   God reveals his plans to Abraham in this passage of Genesis. In his kingdom on earth, God does not make Abraham ruler or servant, but co-creator. It is a two-sided agreement, emphasized when God concludes with  As for you …  Seek the Lord and his strength;     seek his presence continually. The first half of Psalm 105 calls on God’s followers to fulfill their side of God & Abraham’s covenant: give thanks, teach his ways, praise the Lord and glory in his name. And then the transition to God's side of the promise: O offspring of his servant Abraham,     children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God;     his judgements are in all the earth. He is mindful of his covenant for ever,     of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations In both readings from the Hebrew Bible we have this give and give. Here’s what God promises here’s what we promise. This side-...

  Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:1-2, 11-13; Lk 11:29-32 I grew up in a faith tradition that was part of the holiness movement. It began in the late 1800s, out of Methodism, and formed into several denominations. One of the key beliefs of the holiness movement is that one could live above sin. God would not say be ye holy , if we weren’t able to attain it.      With the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, a Christian could live without sinning.  As a result of that theology, there existed Christians that believed they hadn’t sinned in years. Confession and repentance were not a regular part of those believers lives. You confess once, repent, and live perfect. You go to church, enjoy a good buffet after church and everything’s good.   The real world would tell us differently. We are human. We miss the mark. Tish Harrison Warren said “Failure in the Christian life is the norm.” There is a freedom in realizing that we’re not perfect. It reminds us how deepl...

  A 27 year-old newly ordained Rev. Gerald Steele serves communion. Toronto’s Church of the Redeemer, October 1954  Daily Lectionary   Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was . Hebrews 5:1-4 This day in the church calendar is the commemoration of Philip Lindel Tsen, Bishop of Honan, and/or Paul Shinji Sasaki, Bishop of Mid-Japan & Tokyo, a day of discipline and self-denial. Gerald Arthur Steele was born March 4, 1926. In a week and one day, that would be 100 years ago. He received a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering before ...

  Leviticus 19:2-3, 11-18; Ps 19:7-14; Matthew 25:31-46 The Refreshing Law   Some people say Leviticus is one of the most boring books in the Bible as it is all about rules. I have found later in life, for it to be one of the most refreshing. Why would a “rule book” be refreshing? In the same way Psalm 19: 7-14 says the Law is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, precious and sweet. Furthermore, because it is these things it is also “refreshing to the soul,” “making wise the simple,” “joy to the heart,” and “light to the eyes”. How so? In the same way an accurate ruler is right or perfect or trustworthy in measuring something. In the same way it feels good (radiant), precious or sweet to know and to be walking in the right way and free, blameless and innocent. That is a weight off! Also, because it makes sin clear. It’s like a spiritual housecleaning list for one’s relationship with God and others. Did I respect my parents, keep the God’s sabbath, love my neighbour? Che...

  Daily Lectionary   Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-7 Matthew 4:1-11 As I read these scriptures, I was compelled to compare the role and result of temptation in our lives to Christ’s life. Adam and Eve are so very human in their desire for more and the natural inclination to fall into temptation especially when someone is adept at presenting an argument for why that sinful action really is going to be just fine.   Recently, Greg and I travelled to Hawaii and had the opportunity to go to two of my favourite quilting shops. Although I have a “library of fabric” in my home, I still decided I needed to pick up more because it’s hard to find Hawaiian fabrics in Lethbridge and I likely wasn’t getting back to the shops in a long time.  Everyone knows you just don’t want to run short of fabric!    Yielding to this temptation was made easier by purchasing fabric to make Greg a Hawaiian shirt, which is useful, even though he has several Hawaiian shirts.   While this pu...