Lent Resources
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Lent is a 40-day season (excluding Sundays) set apart for reflection and prayer in preparation for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
More than a ritual, Lent is an invitation to slow down and reflect on why Jesus chose to die for us. It’s a time to recognize the weight of sin, mourn the consequences, and turn our eyes to the One who bore it all for us.
What can you give up or start during Lent to grow closer to Jesus?
Some common practices in Lent include:
- Self-examination
- Repentance
- Prayer
- Giving
- Fasting
- Reading Scripture
Lenten Devotionals
Sign up below to receive daily reflection emails during this Lent period from the Anglican Church in North America.
Holy Week Resources:
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday Reading:
In Matthew 26–27, we walk with Jesus through the Last Supper, His betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and death. These powerful chapters mark the beginning of Holy Week and draw us into the heart of the Gospel story.
Application to Our Lenten Journey:
Surrender and Obedience: In Gethsemane, Jesus prays, “not as I will, but as you will.” Lent calls us to the same posture of surrender—laying down our desires to follow God’s will through prayer, fasting, and reflection.
Sacrifice and Suffering: Matthew 26–27 walks us through Jesus’ betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. Lent helps us enter into His suffering, recognizing the weight of sin and the depth of His love shown through the cross.
Repentance and Renewal: Peter’s denial and later repentance
reflect our own spiritual struggle. Lent is a time to confront our failures, return to Jesus with honest hearts, and receive His restoring grace.
Reflection:
As Holy Week begins, how is Jesus inviting you to lay down your pride, embrace the cross, and walk in renewed relationship with Him?
Lent Prayer of the Day:
Almighty and everlasting God, in your tender love for us you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon himself our nature, and to suffer death upon the Cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and come to share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Holy Monday
Holy Monday Reading:
In Mark 14:3-9, a woman anoints Jesus with costly perfume—an act of love, worship, and preparation. As Holy Week begins, this quiet moment speaks volumes, inviting us into deeper reflection and devotion.
Application to Our Lenten Journey:
Sacrificial Love: The woman gives something incredibly valuable to Jesus without hesitation, showing a love that holds nothing back. During Lent, we’re called to reflect on what we’re willing to sacrifice for Christ out of love, not obligation.
Preparation for Jesus’ Death: The woman’s anointing points ahead to Jesus’ burial, acknowledging the suffering He was about to face. Lent invites us to prepare our own hearts for the cross by walking closely with Jesus through His passion.
Wholehearted Devotion: Despite judgment from others, the woman chooses to honor Jesus with bold, sincere worship. Lent challenges us to let go of others’ opinions and draw near to God with our full attention and affection.
Reflection:
As we enter this sacred week, how is God inviting you to pour out your heart in love, preparation, and worship?
Lent Prayer of the Day:
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Holy Tuesday
Holy Tuesday Reading:
In Mark 11:15–19, Jesus enters the temple and drives out those who turned it into a marketplace. His righteous anger reveals a deep longing for true worship and a pure heart before God.
Application to Our Lenten Journey:
Cleansing Our Hearts: Just as Jesus cleared the temple of corruption, Lent invites us to examine and remove anything in our hearts that distracts us from God. It’s a season for honest reflection and spiritual “house cleaning.”
True Worship: Jesus reminds us that God desires worship that is sincere, not self-serving. Lent helps us return to prayer and devotion that come from a place of humility and love.
Spiritual Renewal: The cleansing of the temple symbolizes a fresh start—a call to restore what’s holy. Lent is a time to reset our spiritual lives and realign ourselves with God's purpose.
Reflection:
As we continue through Holy Week, what needs to be cleared away so your heart can become a house of prayer?
Lent Prayer of the Day:
O Lord our God, whose blessed Son gave his back to be whipped and did not hide his face from shame and spitting: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Holy Wednesday
Holy Wednesday Reading:
In Matthew 26, we witness moments of deep contrast—devotion and betrayal, faith and fear. From the woman anointing Jesus to Judas plotting His betrayal, this chapter draws us into the heart of Lent's tension between love and human weakness.
Application to Our Lenten Journey:
Costly Devotion: The woman who anoints Jesus with expensive perfume shows what it means to love Him with her whole heart. Lent invites us to reflect on how we’re offering our best to Jesus—not just through ritual, but through sincere, sacrificial love.
The Reality of Betrayal: Judas’ betrayal reminds us how temptation and misplaced priorities can lead us away from Christ. Lent challenges us to examine our hearts for any compromise or distance that needs healing.
Watchfulness and Prayer: In Gethsemane, Jesus asks His disciples to stay awake and pray, but they fall asleep. Lent is a call to spiritual alertness, urging us to remain close to God, especially in times of weakness or trial.
Reflection:
On this quiet but heavy day, what is Jesus revealing to you about your heart, your loyalty, and your love?
Lent Prayer of the Day:
Assist us mercifully with your grace, Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts by which you have promised us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday Reading:
In John 13:1–15, Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, performing an act of humble service just hours before His betrayal. This quiet, powerful moment reveals the heart of God—one who stoops low to lift others up.
Application to Our Lenten Journey:
Humble Service: Jesus, the Son of God, kneels to wash His disciples’ feet—taking the position of a servant. Lent calls us to follow His example by humbling ourselves and serving others with love and compassion.
Love in Action: Jesus shows that love isn't just words, but selfless action. Lent reminds us that true discipleship means loving others through tangible acts of kindness and grace.
Spiritual Cleansing: When Peter resists, Jesus tells him that unless He washes him, he has no part with Him. This moment invites us in Lent to let Christ cleanse our hearts—through repentance, confession, and renewal.
Reflection:
As we approach the cross, how is Jesus calling you to love lower, serve deeper, and walk cleaner?
Lent Prayer of the Day:
Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Good Friday
Good Friday Reading:
In John 18, we witness Jesus' betrayal, arrest, and trial—the beginning of His final journey to the cross. This solemn chapter invites us to sit in the weight of Christ's suffering and the depth of His love.
Application to Our Lenten Journey:
Jesus’ Willing Surrender: In the face of betrayal and arrest, Jesus willingly steps forward, fully embracing the path to the cross. Lent reminds us to surrender our will to God’s, even when the road is difficult or painful.
Human Weakness and Fear: Peter’s denial and the disciples’ scattering show how fear can cause even the faithful to falter. Lent invites us to confront our own weaknesses with honesty and seek God’s strength and forgiveness.
The Innocent Lamb: Though innocent, Jesus is falsely accused and condemned—taking on suffering He did not deserve. This Lenten season leads us to remember that His sacrifice was for us, to bring healing, hope, and redemption.
Reflection:
As you gaze upon the cross today, how is Christ’s sacrificial love inviting you to be undone, drawn into grace, and renewed in your faith?
Lent Prayer of the Day:
Almighty God, we beseech you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the Cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday Reading:
In John 19, Jesus is crucified, declares “It is finished,” and is laid in the tomb. On this quiet, in-between day, the world holds its breath—and Lent reaches its deepest point of waiting and hope.
Application to Our Lenten Journey:
The Depth of Christ’s Sacrifice: John 19 shows Jesus enduring unimaginable suffering and dying on the cross out of love for humanity. Lent leads us to remember that our salvation came at a great cost—and we’re called to respond with gratitude and devotion.
Fulfillment of God’s Plan: Throughout His suffering, Scripture is fulfilled, revealing that none of this was accidental—it was the Father's redemptive plan unfolding. Lent invites us to trust in God's purpose, even when the path includes pain and uncertainty.
New Life Through Death: When Jesus gives up His spirit and the temple veil is torn, a new way is opened between God and humanity. Lent prepares us to embrace this new life by dying to self and allowing Christ to reshape us from within.
Reflection:
On this day of stillness and waiting, how is God preparing your heart for the hope that is coming?
Lent Prayer of the Day:
O God of the living, on this day your Son our Savior descended to the place of the dead: Look with kindness on all of us who wait in hope for liberation from the corruption of sin and death, and give us a share in the glory of the children of God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Easter Sunrise
Easter Sunrise Reading:
In Matthew 28:1–10, the women come to the tomb at dawn—and find it empty. The angel’s words echo through time: “He is not here, for He has risen!” Lent gives way to joy, and darkness breaks into glorious light.
Application to Our Lenten Journey:
Hope Restored: The women come to the tomb expecting death, but they are met with resurrection and life. Lent prepares our hearts to move from sorrow and sacrifice to the joyful hope of new beginnings in Christ.
Fear Turned to Joy: The angel and Jesus both tell the women, “Do not be afraid,” transforming their fear into courage and joy. Lent reminds us that God meets us in our fear and offers peace that leads to trust and praise.
Go and Tell: Jesus commissions the women to share the good news of His resurrection. Lent isn’t only about personal renewal—it’s also preparation to boldly carry the message of life into the world.
Reflection:
As the sun rises today, what part of your life is Jesus calling back to life with resurrection hope?
Lent Prayer of the Day:
O God, you made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Easter Day
