AECI Lent 2026 Reflection: 'Am I In The Picture? A Screen Journey' (Week 3)

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:

'O my God,

fill our souls with holy joy,

courage and strength to serve you.

Enkindle your love in us

And then walk with us

along the next stretch of the road before us.

We do not see very far ahead,

but when we have arrived where the horizon now closes down,

a new prospect will open before us

and we shall meet in peace.'

Amen.

WEEK 3

Picture 5

Picture 6

“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:26-32)

In our opening prayer, both 'joy' and 'courage' are spoken of as intertwined in service or discipleship. In our divided world today we consider how those qualities might take root

RECALL: A time when your own convictions have challenged those around you. Those whose attitudes and speech might have shocked or surprised you. This might be in ways that seem now relatively minor, but at the time were significant. In picture 5 how would you describe the face of Jesus?

ASK: Am I in the picture? This Lent are you listening to the 'inner call' , to be open and honest with others about what it is behind your own faith journey? To embrace new 'horizons' or 'prospects' before us?

REFLECT: Jesus addresses our resolve before 'councils, synagogues, governors and kings' . The political and religious leaders of his day could not 'acknowledge' a broader picture around human life and human possibility. How might we serve with courage and be true to that 'holy joy', even when in opposition to worldly interests and influences?