Episcopal Relief & Development’s 2025 LENTEN Meditation Journey . . . A COMMONPLACE Lent

When we live in community, let us choose obedience over discipline, for the latter teaches arrogance while the former calls for humility. —Syncletica

The word obedience comes from the Latin root of obedire, which means “listen to,” but the word was also commonly used to mean “pay attention to.” When wisdom from scripture, from the saints or the desert mothers and fathers, calls us to “obey,” we are being challenged to listen and pay attention.

The concept of discipline also has more than one meaning. Some hear “discipline” and
think of self-control, our diets, exercise routines or fasting practices. Others think of punishment, often physical, which is, unfortunately, how many monastics most frequently misused the term in the thirteenth century.

But with a more authentic understanding, I have taken the liberty of rewriting Syncletica’s words: When we live in community—at home, church, school, work and neighborhoods—let us choose to listen and pay attention to each other and our own hearts over physically, mentally, or emotionally punishing ourselves or each other, for the latter teaches arrogance while the former calls for humility.

This Lent, what would it look like to pause, listen and pay deep attention when we are tempted to chastise, punish or criticize ourselves or others? Perhaps this Lent, instead of giving up chocolate or wine, we give up self-criticism and the harsh judgment of those who annoy us and instead attempt to listen with the heart of Christ to what is underneath those things we are prone to discipline.

For REFLECTION:

Where could you begin to listen more and punish or criticize less? How might it change the relationship or communal experience? 

Click here to read the introduction to the 2025 Lenten Meditation “A Commonplace Lent.”

The Lenten Meditations prepared by Episcopal Relief & Development invite readers to deepen their spiritual practice during the season of Lent, the time of preparation leading to Easter. Our 2025 meditations explore the idea of “A Commonplace Lent.” This concept reflects Episcopal Relief & Development’s tagline: “Working Together for Lasting Change.” We share in common the work of advancing lasting change in communities impacted by injustice, poverty, disaster and climate change.

We also share in common spiritual practices that strengthen our faith—prayer, worship, love, grace, service and so much more. The author explores another meaning of common in the  meditations: finding God in the common and ordinary as well as in the extraordinary mountain-top moments. Each day begins with wisdom from desert mothers and fathers, monastics and other spiritual leaders who offer insight into our common path of faithful discipleship and service. Each meditation concludes with a question for deeper reflection.

Episcopal Relief & Development is the compassionate response of The Episcopal Church to human suffering in the world. Hearing God’s call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being, Episcopal Relief & Development serves to bring together the generosity of Episcopalians and others with the needs of the world.

This Lenten Meditation Journey is provided courtesy of Episcopal Relief & Development and was authored by Jerusalem Jackson Greer, co-executive director and agrarian minister for the Procter Center, an Episcopal farm, camp and retreat center in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio. As former manager of evangelism and discipleship for The Episcopal Church under Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, she co-founded the Good News Garden movement and oversaw Way of Love and Evangelism initiatives for the wider church.