Meditation by the Reverend Paul Shoaf-Kozak
Priest-in-Charge, Christo Rey, Trenton

Almost nothing is more contagious than sin. The intent to do harm, the actual harming, the abuse of power and freedom, and the insatiable desire to both obtain and maintain wealth at all costs sit atop any litany of sin. Such sins might be what the first Christians considered “notorious” in their observation of Lent (BCP p.264-265). Furthermore, the contagion of sin creeps into our hearts and minds to alter our behaviors in a myriad of ways, effectively keeping us separated from neighbor and God. In the story of the Prodigal Son, sin barricades the enormous distance between two brothers who share both a father and a homestead, impeding the generous flow of mercy and grace.

Meditation by Canon Karen Moore
Senior Warden, Grace Episcopal Church, Plainfield

In the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Jesus is talking to a group of people who see themselves as righteous. Not only are these people full of pride, they are also disdainful of other people who, in their judgement, are not as good as them.  So Jesus tells them a story about two men who have gone to the temple to pray. One man, a Pharisee, seems to be just like them. The other man, a tax collector, is not at all like them. As a tax collector, he is reviled by his fellow Jews as a traitor who collaborates with the Roman oppressors. In the parable Jesus tells, the Pharisee smugly recounts his good works to God, confident of the divine blessing to come. It’s more like a boast than a prayer. But the tax collector humbly beats his breast in remorse for his sinfulness and begs for God’s mercy. Jesus tells the group that God bestowed his blessing on the humble tax collector but not on the arrogant do-gooder.

Meditation by Tiff Campbell
Intern, St. David’s Church, Cranbury

Have you ever been asked the question, “what is Lent?”.  Maybe it was a friend of yours who practices another faith tradition, maybe it was a co-worker who wondered about the “dirt on your head” on Ash Wednesday, or perhaps it was your clergy asking you to reflect on the meaning and reason for the season. Luckily there is formation for that!

Meditation by the Reverend Luke Zerra
Interim Dean, The Stevenson School for Ministry
Priest-in-Charge, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Brentwood, PA

“Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house.”

In today’s passage, the main question is about discernment. Is this Jesus really who he says he is, or is he only able to cast out demons because he is working the demons? How do we know the difference? To this, Jesus gives the famous answer that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (yes, this phrase comes from Jesus, not Abraham Lincoln!).

Meditation by the Reverend Daphne Roberts, Deacon
Christ Church, New Brunswick

Jesus was always faithful to the Torah but clashed with the Jewish authorities. He disagreed with the human and oral traditions that were being introduced by the Pharisees and scribes for their own benefit. These human and oral traditions were created, enforced and had nothing to do with the written Laws of the Prophets. Jesus opposed the authorities, he confronted them in Matthew 15:3, by saying, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” Because of this the Jewish authorities portrayed him as a radical to the people, as someone who wanted to destroy their way of life. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus is defending himself against their criticism.

Meditation by the Very Reverend Debbie Cook
Rector, All Saints’ Memorial Church, Navesink

“…let it be with me according to your word.”

When I was a young child, I was drawn to Mary: her story, her faith, her being chosen to be the mother of Jesus, our Lord.  Her trust in Gabriel’s message and her obedience were an inspiration, and I too longed to do something great for God, to be obedient to some seemingly impossible mission from God. (One should be careful what one wishes for!).  In my little girl romanticized world, it all seemed so simple—after all, Luke skips over the risks and challenges that came with her acquiescence.   My grown-up self, however, appreciates her story more for those risks and challenges, and I understand the story in quite a different way.

Meditation by the Very Reverend Andrew Hanyzewski
Rector, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Mount Holly

In this passage, St. Luke reminds us of something important; an important truth that can be difficult to accept. This truth is that often, the greatest truths are the ones that we are most unwilling or opposed to hearing; most especially when they question or challenge our preconceived thinking and beliefs. In this lesson, Jesus tells the people of Nazareth that a prophet is never accepted in his own native residence.  Jesus then goes on to explain this point by naming examples from the lives of Elijah and Elisha.

Meditation by the Very Reverend Bob Fitzpatrick
Grace Episcopal Church, Merchantville

There is so much going on.  This Scripture passages from Luke compiles a long string of events.  Maybe they all happened chronologically one after another or maybe the evangelist strung together these precious memories of Jesus like beads to make a narrative bracelet.

Meditation by the Reverend Canon Lee Powers
Diocese of New Jersey, Retired

I once delivered a children’s sermon when this passage was the Gospel reading. I learned that it’s better to have a conversation with children than preach to them. I asked them a question: “Who was happy in this story?” A few hands raised and they said “The Daddy” and “the bad boy.” I thought it interesting that they had already judged the younger son as “bad.” Then I asked, “Who wasn’t happy in this story?” Sally said, “the fatted calf.” Jesus said we should have faith like a child to find the kingdom of God!

Meditation by the Very Reverend René John
Dean, Trinity Cathedral, Trenton

Lent has always been, for me, a time of repentance, reflection, and renewal. As I meditate on Matthew’s Gospel, I see it as an invitation to recognize and steward the gifts God has given us. How are we using these gifts in Lent 2025? Reminding myself of our accountability for these blessings helps me remain faithful to my calling. This passage also reminds us that we are not owners but stewards of God’s bounty.

Meditation by the Reverend Micah Cronin
Associate Rector, St. George’s by the River, Rumson

In his parables, Jesus often likes to get us riled up with righteous indignation, before going in for the kill. This parable of Lazarus and the rich man is a good example. Here, Jesus is in the middle of a long monologue to his disciples, sparked by some Pharisees who were indignant about who Jesus was associating with: “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them,” they complained (Luke 15:1). Which set Jesus off on a tirade of several parables.

Meditation by Canon Phil Lewis, MD, MPH
Trinity Cathedral, Member of the Lifelong Christian Formation Committee

Jesus getting lost at Passover has always been an odd thing to me.

While I understand that, in some way that is not quite clear to my scientific and 21st century mind, Jesus was both fully God and fully human, it’s hard to know what he was thinking when he chose to stay in Jerusalem as his parents, his family (for I assume his sisters and brothers were on the trip too) left for Nazareth.

Meditation by Anne Delgado
Missioner for Lifelong Christian Formation, Diocese of New Jersey

This passage from Matthew’s Gospel is part of Jesus’ teaching in the Temple, where he directly challenges the religious status quo of the day. In the translation I use as my daily Scripture reader, The Message, this particular passage is titled “Religious Fashion Shows.” As usual, Jesus is getting right to the point as he continues to explain God’s kingdom to the people gathered to listen! listen! These teachings challenge the worldly expectations of the crowd, in Jesus’ time and in our time, and they have much to say to us this Lent.

Meditation by Kimme Carlos
Postulant, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Ewing

As a young adult, I had little to no patience. It seemed the whole world was out to annoy me and I had no tolerance for it. Why did everyone drive so slow? Why was the cashier at the supermarket not bagging properly? What is taking this person so long to respond to my email? It felt like I was living in a state of aggravation; unloving, judgmental and stingy with mercy and compassion. A friend once said to me, “You do know that your children are witnessing this right? They see your impatience with them.” Yet, I was unmoved.

Meditation by the Reverend Clarke French
Interim, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Basking Ridge

Today, in churches across the land, Christians will hear what the editors of my Bible call “The Lament over Jerusalem.” It is a highly charged, enigmatic, and intensely political passage that can leave us scratching our heads. In just five verses we are asked to contemplate the Pharisees and their motives, Jesus’s ministry of exorcism and healing, the legitimacy of Herod’s tinpot regime, a rare mention of the divine feminine (“a hen gathering her brood,”) and at least two references to Jesus’s coming Passion.

Meditation by the Reverend Matthew J. Tucker
Rector, Christ Church, Bordentown

In May of 1778, the French writer Voltaire was nearing death, and he knew it.  Ever the critic of Christianity, or maybe more of the Roman Catholic Church, nevertheless, he welcomed a priest into his quarters while on his deathbed.  The priest, just trying to do his, was trying to prepare Voltaire’s soul for death, and he asked him to renounce Satan, to which Voltaire replied, “Now, now, my good man, this is no time to be making enemies.”

Meditation by the Reverend Canon Ronald N. Pollock
Rector, St. John’s Church, Somerville

Several weeks from now we reach the end of Lent, moving through Holy Week and ultimately toward Easter – The Feast of the Resurrection.  The glory of the Resurrection can never be separated from the glory of the Cross.  “The Risen Jesus always shows us His wounds…” says author Henri Nouwen…

Meditation by the Very Reverend Marshall K. Shelly
Rector, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Spotswood

I drowned once. We were on a mission trip in Guatemala, and I had waded into rough surf to pull one of our youth group members out of a wave that had knocked him down. I know you should never turn your back on the ocean, but at that moment, I did. The next wave knocked me down, dislocated my shoulder, and pulled me under and out from shore. Surrounded by water that was roiling around me, unable to sense up from down, and knowing I was releasing on my last breath, I commended myself to God and apologized to my wife in my heart for leaving this life too soon. The light grew brighter, and my vision faded…

Meditation by the Reverend Kimberly Reinholz
Interim Priest, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Salem

As a child, my family moved often, four states in five years, and we worshipped in nearly as many Episcopal parishes as I attended grade schools.  However, as I grew, I began to understand and follow the liturgy, and notice different ways of praying, of singing, of preaching and being present in worship.  This became truer when I was old enough to serve on the altar, prayers began to take on meaning. More than knowing that certain words and phrases was the indicator of when to sit, stand, kneel, walk, or ring bells, I noticed things like no matter what, we always said the Lord’s Prayer.