Year B Lenten resources for parishes, groups, schools, families and children. Published by the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. Available worldwide.
The videos below are six brief presentations of the ‘Living Lent’ section from the adult Lenten book, Towards the Light. This section provides information on Lenten practices, symbols and rituals. The seventh video, ‘From the Cross to the Light’, presents an overview of the Towards the Light theme.
In John’s Gospel on the fifth Sunday of Lent this year we hear that ‘the light has come into the world’ and ‘those who do what is true come to the light’.
Light is one of the most powerful forces in our world. The sun’s light provides the energy for life and illuminates our daily lives.
For the author of John’s Gospel there could be no more fitting image for God’s immanent and transcendent presence. Light is a theme that appears right from the Prologue of the Gospel: ‘In the beginning was the Word … What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it’ (John 1:1,3-5)
So important is the theme of light that the early Church often referred to baptism as ‘illumination’.
Pope Benedict XVI, in his Easter Vigil homily (2005) emphasised the significance of the symbol of light at the end of our Lenten journey:
The liturgy of the holy night of Easter – after the blessing of the paschal candle – begins with a procession behind the light and towards the light. This procession symbolically sums up the entire … journey of Lent, but also calls to mind Israel’s long journey through the desert towards the Promised Land, and lastly, it symbolizes the journey of humanity, which in the night of history was seeking light, seeking paradise, seeking true life, reconciliation between the peoples, between heaven and earth, universal peace.
Through prayerful reading and listening to the Lenten Gospels each week we cast a new light on our lives and our world. Like a summer shower the scriptures act as a prism to reveal a rainbow of colours so that we may discern hues of God’s grace and mercy.
The psalmist reminds us that: ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Psalm 119:105).
The following were provided as feeback on the current and previous Lenten Programs published by the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
‘Towards the Light’ is a marvelous way to connect with the Scriptures throughout the Lenten Season, and could not be any easier for parishioners to use.
It is a treasure trove of spiritual insights and guided meditations that deepen our hearts in a true sense of God’s presence walking with us towards Easter. As such, you should find in this resource a clear and easy way to enter into the spirit of the season, especially if this is your first time facilitating the program.
The format of each session is simple and without unnecessary complications, supplemented by a helpful guide for all coordinators. As someone who has both participated and lead such Lenten prayer groups in the past, I am confident you will find the privilege of coordinating this year’s ‘Towards the Light’ a fulfilling and rewarding endeavour.
Fr Jason Middleton, (Southport Catholic Parish)
‘Towards the Light’ is a gift for a group. It is easy and attractive to use and provides a worthwhile opportunity to nourish your faith together – and enjoy doing it.
Sr Maree Byron OSU (Pastoral Minister, Maroochydore)
I thoroughly recommend the Lenten Program as set out in the ‘Towards the Light’ booklet. Easy to read, well illustrated, progressing from one week to the next, the booklet enables the participants to enjoy an exciting life and faith experience leading up to the great feast of Easter.
