Lent 2025 Day 1
Lent 2025 Day 1
Simon Peter, Disciple and Early Church Leader
Luke 5:1-11 | Psalm 51:1-17
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance, reflection, and preparation. It’s a day when ashes are placed on our foreheads, reminding us of our mortality: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” But Lent is not only about death — it is about the possibility of resurrection, of being transformed by grace.
Peter's story in Luke 5:1-11 captures this tension beautifully. When Jesus steps into Peter’s boat, the fisherman is exhausted after a night of catching nothing. But at Jesus’ word, Peter lets down his nets again — and hauls in a miraculous catch. Overwhelmed by Jesus’ power, Peter falls to his knees and says, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Then Jesus said to Peter, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was a fisherman from Bethsaida and one of Jesus' first disciples. He was bold and impulsive, quick to speak and act — sometimes getting it right, and sometimes falling short. He witnessed Jesus' miracles, walked on water (though briefly), and was part of Jesus' inner circle. Yet, Peter also denied Jesus three times during the night of Christ's arrest. Still, after the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter, commissioning him to “feed my sheep.” Peter became a foundational leader in the early church, boldly preaching at Pentecost and helping spread the gospel far and wide. Tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome, choosing to be crucified upside down, believing himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ.
Peter’s journey reminds us that faith is rarely a straight path. His life was full of moments of doubt, failure, and profound transformation. On this Ash Wednesday, we, like Peter, are invited to bring our whole selves before God — our weariness, our sin, our doubts — and hear Jesus’ call. The ashes on our foreheads don’t mark us for rejection; they mark us for transformation. We are not left in our sin. We remember our mortality and start the journey towards eternal life. Just as Jesus called Peter to leave his nets and follow, we are invited to step into the unknown, trusting that death is not the end of our story.
Reflection:
Breath Prayer: Inhale: Create in me a clean heart… Exhale: …and renew a right spirit within me.
May this Lent be a journey from death to resurrection — and everything in between.
Amen.
Luke 5:1-11 | Psalm 51:1-17
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance, reflection, and preparation. It’s a day when ashes are placed on our foreheads, reminding us of our mortality: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” But Lent is not only about death — it is about the possibility of resurrection, of being transformed by grace.
Peter's story in Luke 5:1-11 captures this tension beautifully. When Jesus steps into Peter’s boat, the fisherman is exhausted after a night of catching nothing. But at Jesus’ word, Peter lets down his nets again — and hauls in a miraculous catch. Overwhelmed by Jesus’ power, Peter falls to his knees and says, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Then Jesus said to Peter, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was a fisherman from Bethsaida and one of Jesus' first disciples. He was bold and impulsive, quick to speak and act — sometimes getting it right, and sometimes falling short. He witnessed Jesus' miracles, walked on water (though briefly), and was part of Jesus' inner circle. Yet, Peter also denied Jesus three times during the night of Christ's arrest. Still, after the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter, commissioning him to “feed my sheep.” Peter became a foundational leader in the early church, boldly preaching at Pentecost and helping spread the gospel far and wide. Tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome, choosing to be crucified upside down, believing himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ.
Peter’s journey reminds us that faith is rarely a straight path. His life was full of moments of doubt, failure, and profound transformation. On this Ash Wednesday, we, like Peter, are invited to bring our whole selves before God — our weariness, our sin, our doubts — and hear Jesus’ call. The ashes on our foreheads don’t mark us for rejection; they mark us for transformation. We are not left in our sin. We remember our mortality and start the journey towards eternal life. Just as Jesus called Peter to leave his nets and follow, we are invited to step into the unknown, trusting that death is not the end of our story.
Reflection:
- What “nets” — habits, fears, or sins — might Jesus be asking you to let go of this Lent?
- How does acknowledging your "dustiness" open you to God’s grace?
Breath Prayer: Inhale: Create in me a clean heart… Exhale: …and renew a right spirit within me.
May this Lent be a journey from death to resurrection — and everything in between.
Amen.
Posted in Lent 2025
Recent
Archive
2024
December
Advent Day 1 - HopeAdvent Day 2 – Hope – Emma Community MarketAdvent Day 3 – Hope – Angel TreeAdvent Day 4 – Hope – Haywood Street CongregationAdvent Day 5 – Hope – Youth MinistryAdvent Day 6 – Hope – Church and SocietyAdvent Day 7 – Hope – Children's MinistryAdvent Day 8 - PeaceAdvent Day 9 – Peace – Prison MinistryAdvent Day 10 – Peace – Creation CareAdvent Day 11 – Peace – Wilderness TrailAdvent Day 12 – Peace – Children's MinistryAdvent Day 13 – Peace – Habitat for HumanityC4C Winter Coat Drive 2024Advent Day 14 – Peace – United Women in FaithAdvent Day 15 - Rev. Ann OwensAdvent Day 16 – Joy – College ChristmasCentral UMC Visits First UMC, Moheto in KenyaAdvent Day 17 – Joy – Reconciling Ministries NetworkAdvent Day 18 – Joy – ABCCMAdvent Day 19 – Joy – Stephen MinistryAdvent Day 20 – Joy – Children's MinistryAdvent Day 21 – Joy – Youth MinistryAdvent Day 22 – LoveAdvent Day 23 – Love – Recovery ResourcesAdvent Day 24 – Love – Worship and the ArtsAdvent Day 25 – Christmas
No Comments