Daily Lenten Devotional

Written by: Julia Smolucha

The Reverend Katie Snipes Lancaster

The 40 days of Lent prepare us to receive the story of Easter. We are made ready by the journey, day by day laying the groundwork for transformation. In the season of Lent, we draw near to the story of Jesus’ life in order to hold the mystery of his death, resurrection and promises of new life.

Christine Hides and I will offer a Lenten devotional called Circle the Stories: Parables of the Great Parabler. We circled all the parables in the Gospel of Luke, in which Jesus offers 38 different tangible, mystery-laden (mystic?) stories of everyday objects and human encounters that push us to see the divine in life-transforming ways. Sign up to receive this daily devotional in your email inbox, or follow along on social media.

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Posted Devotionals

Circle the Stories: Parables of the Great Parabler

Saturday, April 16, 2022 The Parabler Becomes a Parable, by Katie Snipes Lancaster TNow there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council. He was a good and righteous man. He hadn’t agreed with the plan and actions of the council. He was from the Jewish city of Arimathea and eagerly anticipated God’s kingdom. This man went to Pilate and asked for [...]

Circle the Stories: Parables of the Great Parabler

Friday, April 15, 2022 The Fig Tree in Bloom, by Katie Snipes Lancaster Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that God’s kingdom is near.” Luke 21:29–31 Reflection: We live in a [...]

Circle the Stories: Parables of the Great Parabler

Thursday, April 14, 2022 The Tenant Farmers, by Katie Snipes Lancaster Jesus told the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, rented it to tenant farmers, and went on a trip for a long time. When it was time, he sent a servant to collect from the tenants his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants sent him away beaten and [...]

Circle the Stories: Parables of the Great Parabler

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 The Valuable Coins, by Katie Snipes Lancaster As they listened to this, Jesus told them another parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought God’s kingdom would appear right away. He said, “A certain man who was born into royalty went to a distant land to receive his kingdom and then return. He called together ten servants and gave each of [...]

Circle the Stories: Parables of the Great Parabler

Tuesday, April 12, 2022 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector, by Katie Snipes Lancaster Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust: “Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these [...]

Circle the Stories: Parables of the Great Parabler

Monday, April 11, 2022 The Unjust Judge and Persistent Widow, by Katie Snipes Lancaster Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in [...]

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