Week 1 | God Is Holy, Other, and Glorious

Theme

Before Lent asks anything of us, it invites us to look, truly look, at God.

Reflection

“The world is charged with the grandeur of God.”

— Gerard Manley Hopkins

Lent begins not with self-examination, but with God contemplation. God is not a larger version of ourselves, nor a distant idea meant to comfort or explain life. He is wholly other, Holy, the One who imagined galaxies before light existed, who designed the structure of atoms and the arc of stars, who formed every leaf, every cell, every human face and emotion with intention, wisdom, love and delight.

Nothing exists by accident. Creation itself becomes a language, a sign post, pointing beyond itself to the beauty, power, and generosity of its Maker.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” — Isaiah 6:3

And here is the wonder that should still us most:
This God sees us, knows us and he is listening.
The Holy One attends to the quiet prayers, to the hopes and dreams of fragile, finite people. He hears the cries of the overlooked and the ordinary.

To stand before such a God is not to be crushed, but to be awakened. Awe reorders us. Wonder restores humility. Lent begins by re-centering our vision.

Scripture for the Week

Daily Breath Prayer

Daily Meditation/Dwell Prompt

As you enter your day, lift your eyes and slow your pace.
Notice the sky, feel the ground beneath your feet
every detail a love letter, a clue, and a challenge.
Where do you see signs of God’s beauty and care?
Resist explaining. Simply stand in awe.

For more resources, check out our Lent Prayer Guide.