AECI Lent 2026 Reflection: 'Am I In The Picture? A Screen Journey'(Week 1)

AECI Lent 2026 Reflection: 'Am I In The Picture? A Screen Journey'

(with reference to Pier Paolo Pasolini's 'Gospel According to St Matthew 1964)

Opening Prayer

'Lord,

Help us to be open to your Spirit

In these days of Lent ahead of us

To discern the path of spiritual growth and truth

To approach with a pure heart

The practice of silence and stillness

An awareness of journey

A lucid picture of faithfulness'

Amen

WEEK 1

Picture 1

Picture 2

'At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert

to be tempted by the devil.

He fasted for forty days and forty nights,

and afterwards he was hungry.

The tempter approached and said to him,

“If you are the Son of God,

command that these stones become loaves of bread.”

He said in reply,

“It is written:

One does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes forth

from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4: 1-4)

The places we live, work and travel to in life, can sometimes leave us feeling isolated, tired, disconnected and alone.

RECALL: Imagine if elements of your own life were to be captured on screen. Might there be one setting, one environment or landscape that you would depict as 'challenging'.

ASK: Am I in the picture? This Lent are you seeking 'space and time' away from the pressures and noise of everyday life? Are you passing Jesus on his journey in 'Picture 1', thinking it is strange, seeing the isolated figure? Are you curious to know more? To follow him? Are you watching from some distance witnessing a tense exchange of views in 'Picture 2'?

REFLECT: How might we commit to hearing 'every word that comes forth from the mouth of God' ? When and where do we 'listen well'?