Lent Pause: Ash Wednesday
INTRODUCTION
Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent—a time of getting ready for Easter. For centuries, Christians have used these 40 days to slow down, reflect, and seek God in a deeper way. But Lent isn’t just for Christians—it’s for anyone who wants to take some time to pause, to reflect, and to be open to meeting with God in a fresh way.
Life moves fast. We’re pulled in a hundred different directions, always on the go. But what if, in this season, we made a little space each week to breathe, to listen, to just be in God’s presence? That’s what these Lent reflections are about.
So today, I want to give you a small taste of something we’ll be doing every Wednesday from 12:30 - 1:00 pm, right up until the Wednesday before Easter (April 16th). We’ll meet for a short, 20-minute gathering—nothing complicated, nothing pressured. Just a quiet space to hear a passage from the Bible, sit with it, and pray if you want to. Think of today as a “taster” of what’s to come. 10 minutes or so instead of 20.
This isn’t like a Sunday service—it’s much simpler, much stiller. A chance to step away from the noise, to listen to God’s words, and maybe even hear something your heart needs to to hear.
And as is the case today, everyone is welcome. Whether you think of yourself as a Christian or not, this is for you. A space to be, to rest, to reflect.
So let’s take a moment now. Get comfortable. Let yourself settle. And let’s begin…
An Invitation to Rest
Welcome, everyone. As we begin this season of Lent, I want to offer you a few quiet moments to pause, to breathe, and to listen. Wherever you’ve come from today—whether you're feeling rushed, tired, or at peace—this is a moment to simply be.
We’re going to hear a short passage from Jesus, and I’ll guide us through a way of listening that helps us not just hear the words, but step into them. You don’t have to do anything—just listen and let the words speak to you."
First Reading: Listening for the Words
Let me set this reading in context: Picture Jesus walking along a dusty road in Galilee, surrounded by people worn down by life: workers hauling goods, fishermen fresh off the boat, women drawing water, or folks struggling under the weight of religious rules. Maybe He stops for a moment under the shade of a tree, looking into tired faces, seeing the longing in their eyes. And with deep kindness, He offers them something they never expected—real rest, real grace.
This passage comes from Matthew 11:28 - 30 in The Message Translation of the Bible. As you listen, picture the scene in your mind. See if a word or phrase jumps out at you.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”What was it like to hear Jesus speak those words?
How did you feel? Just hold onto that for a moment…
Second Reading: Entering the Scene
"Now, I invite you to use your imagination, to place yourself in the scene. Close your eyes if you’re comfortable. Picture yourself in the crowd, standing among those listening to Jesus. You’ve been walking for miles, carrying more than just physical weight—perhaps the weight of worry, exhaustion, or uncertainty."
Hear the words of Jesus:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
What did it feel like to hear Jesus say this to you?
Third reading: Listening to Jesus
Now, see Jesus standing before you. He looks right at you—not past you, not through you, but at you, as if He already knows the weight you’re carrying. What does His expression look like?
He opens His mouth and speaks: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.’"
How do those words feel to you? Do you believe them? Do you want them to be true?
(Brief pause)
Jesus continues: “Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.”
What do you think it means that he won’t lay anything ill-fitting on you? What might He be asking you to let go of? What might “learning the unforced rhythms of Grace” be like?
(Brief pause)
Finally, He finishes with this promise: “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly."
Can you picture yourself accepting this invitation?What would it look like to lay your burdens down and walk in step with Him?
Take a moment to sit with what you've seen and heard. There’s no rush. Just notice what stood out to you.
A Moment of Commitment & Prayer
Lent is a season of turning - of shifting our hearts toward God. If something in this passage spoke to you, I invite you to respond in a simple way.
You don’t have to say anything aloud, but in your heart, you might want to whisper a prayer to Jesus: ‘Lord, I bring You my burdens. I trust You to carry them. Teach me to walk in Your rest.’
Or maybe there’s something practical you feel invited to do—some way of making space for rest, of slowing down, of trusting Jesus with the things that weigh on you.
(Pause for a few seconds of silent personal prayer.)
Closing Blessing
As you go from here, may you hear again Jesus’ invitation:
“Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”
May you know that you are seen by God, you are loved by God and you are not alone.
