Excerpted from 2025 Lenten Guide: The Year of the Lord, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year C from the North Carolina Council of Churches.
Isaiah 43:16-21
Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
who brings out chariot and horse,
army and warrior;
they lie down; they cannot rise;
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
Do not remember the former things
or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
The wild animals will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.
The fifth Sunday in Lent invites reflection on the themes of renewal, redemption, and transformation. This connection is powerfully linked to Jesus’ first sermon in Luke 4 with the declaration to bring spiritual and physical liberation, healing, and restoration to our world.
Just as Jesus proclaimed freedom and healing for God’s people, it is we who are now called to care for the environment, address the suffering of creation, and restore what has been broken by human neglect and exploitation. As polluting industries are given more leeway, the long-term effects of environmental degradation are becoming more apparent, urging us to act with urgency to protect the places and people we love.
As people of faith we must overcome fear mongering and shift the conversation to what IS possible. We must be cowed by limits, but work to change our future and ensure a better present. We must recognize the truth that local communities have real solutions to the overlapping crises that affect them and support their work. We must adopt a shared narrative about the environment and climate change that will move us toward the future God envisions.
This Sunday scripture calls us to take action, not only in our spiritual lives, but also in the physical ways we interact with the world. This includes how we care for creation, support the vulnerable, and work for peace. We are part of a larger story and the times we live in demand our steadfast engagement, action, and hope.
