Lent begins this week. It starts with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 and then moves through 5 Sundays that lead to Palm Sunday on March 29. In this post I want to look specifically at the texts and possible themes for the Gospel readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
I had the joy to preach at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, NE. The sermon comes from the Narrative Lectionary text for Feb. 8, 2026. This week we see another contrast between the northern region and Jerusalem. There was a royal official in Cana who saw Jesus for who he was and had enough faith in him that he asked Jesus to heal his son long distance. There was another man in Jerusalem who was the lowest of the low. Jesus breaks the Sabbath law and heals this man. Yet, in spite of the miracle of healing, the only thing that people can see in Jesus is a lawbreaker and a blasphemer. We see what we want to see.
Open our eyes, oh Lord
Join me for this livestream contemplative art experience where I paint a tree in Procreate on my iPad. There were a lot of technical glitches during this livestream, but it turned out that we learned as much from them as we did from the contemplative drawing practice.
I hope this stream opens a space of slowness and contemplation that is a balm during such difficult times.
Painting is therapy for me.
May this image help you today.