Preparation for the Procession – Week 1 – Great Lent 2025
Introduction to the Week’s Journey
“Let us now set out on the holy path of repentance.”
This first week of the Great Lent is our preparation for the procession—a spiritual beginning filled with intention, prayer, and inward focus.
Each day invites us to reject sin, embrace goodness, grow in the Spirit, and seek the Kingdom of God above all else.
Let your heart walk slowly through each verse, reflection, and reading—one day at a time.
This is not just a calendar—it’s a procession of the soul toward the Cross and Resurrection.
How to Use This Weekly Guide
Daily Structure | Each day contains:
- A theme drawn from the Church’s readings
- A verse from Scripture (NKJV) to focus your thoughts
- A reflection for spiritual meditation
- A practice to help you live the message
- And a dropdown of readings from the Bible and Church services
To open the day’s devotion
- Click the day’s title (e.g., “📅 Monday – Reject Evil”) to expand the section.
- You can also click “📜 Readings for [Day]” to explore the complete biblical readings of the day.
📿 Tip: Read in the morning to guide your day—or in the evening to reflect and repent.
Sunday – Seek the Kingdom
Key Verse – Matthew 6:33 (NKJV):
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Reflection:
This is the foundation of Lent. Seek Christ the King Himself. All else follows.
Practice:
Start and end your day with this verse aloud in your heart. Make it your focus for the week.
📅 Sunday – Seek the Kingdom
Key Verse – Matthew 6:33 (NKJV):
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Reflection:
This is the foundation of Lent. Seek Christ—not the rituals, not the fast alone, but the King Himself. All else follows.
Practice:
Start and end your day with this verse aloud. Make it your focus for the week.
📜 Readings for Sunday
- Psalm 16:3,11: “Whose belly you fill with your hid treasure and leave the rest of their substance for their babes.”
- Luke 11:1–13: “Lord, teach us to pray, so He said to them, When you pray, say, Our Father which are in heaven.”
📅 Monday – Reject Evil
Key Verse – Proverbs 3:7 (NKJV):
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Reflection:
True transformation begins with rejection of sin and pride. It means trusting God’s wisdom, not our own reasoning.
Practice:
Identify one sin to reject this week and bring it before the Lord in prayer.
📜 Readings for Monday
- Exodus 2:23–3:5: “And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush.”
- Isaiah 1:2–18: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD has spoken.”
- Psalm 6:1–2: “O LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger, neither chasten me in Your hot displeasure.”
- Matthew 12:24–34: “And He said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation.”
- Romans 1:26–2:7: “You have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else.”
- James 2:1–13: “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.”
- Acts 14:19–28: “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
- Psalm 21:25: “My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.”
- Mark 9:33–50: “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
📅 Tuesday – Cling to What is Good
Key Verse – Romans 12:9 (NKJV):
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”
Reflection:
Lent is not only about rejecting evil—it’s about actively clinging to virtue, purity, and truth.
Practice:
Perform one deliberate act of good today that reflects Christ’s love.
📜 Readings for Tuesday
- Isaiah 1:19–23: “How the faithful city becomes a harlot, it was full of judgment. Righteousness but now murderers.”
- Zechariah 8:7–13: “Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west.”
- Psalm 22:1–3: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He restores my soul.”
- Matthew 9:10–15: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice for I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
- Romans 9:14–29: “The riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared for glory.”
- 1 Peter 4:3–11: “Therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers… love will cover a multitude of sins.”
- Acts 5:34–42: “Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”
- Psalm 24:16,17: “Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.”
- Luke 12:41–50: “Blessed is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”
📅 Wednesday – Love and Give
Key Verse – Matthew 5:44 (NKJV):
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
Reflection:
Loving when it’s hard and giving without expecting return makes us true children of the Father.
Practice:
Pray for someone you struggle to love. Bless them in your thoughts or actions.
📜 Readings for Wednesday
- Isaiah 2:1–3: “For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
- Joel 2:21–27: “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
- Psalm 24:6,7: “Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses.”
- Luke 6:24–34: “Love your enemies … bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
- Romans 14:9: “We then who are strong ought to bear the scruples of the weak, not to please ourselves.”
- 2 Peter 1:4–11: “Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
- Acts 10:9–20: “…and he saw heaven opened.”
- Psalm 24:20,16: “For I put my trust in You. Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me.”
- Luke 6:35–38: “Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you.”
📅 Thursday – Grow in Spirit
Key Verse – Psalm 51:10 (NKJV):
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Reflection:
Growth comes from pruning. Ask God to renew you from within—not with quick fixes, but with deep cleansing.
Practice:
Spend 10 minutes today in silence asking the Holy Spirit to renew your heart.
📜 Readings for Thursday
- Isaiah 3:1–19: “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down…”
- Zechariah 8:18–23: “The fast of the fifth … shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah.”
- Psalm 33:1,2: “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.”
- Luke 8:22–25: “He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, they ceased and there was a calm.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:16–5:9: “The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”
- John 14:16–21: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.”
- Acts 3:8–13: “For unclean spirits, came out of many who were possessed…”
- Psalm 117:14,18: “The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.”
- Mark 4:21–29: “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
📅 Friday – Pray and Submit
Key Verse – Psalm 46:10 (NKJV):
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Reflection:
When we pray, we submit. Stillness allows God to move more than our noise ever can.
Practice:
Every time you feel rushed or stressed today, whisper: “Be still. He is God.”
📜 Readings for Friday
- Deut. 6:3–26: “Hear O Israel and be careful to observe it, may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly.”
- Isaiah 3:1–14: “For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”
- Psalm 39:12: “I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up… I cried out to You, and You healed me.”
- Luke 5:12–16: “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”
- Romans 12:6–21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
- 1 John 1:1–15: “Beloved, follow not with this evil, But that which is good. He that does good is of God.”
- Acts 2:42–39: “They continued in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers.”
- Psalm 15:2–5: “He who walks uprightly and works righteousness… shall never be moved.”
- Luke 11:1–10: “When you pray, say, Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name.”
📅 Saturday – Be Perfect
Key Verse – Matthew 5:48 (NKJV):
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Reflection:
Perfection in Christ is not flawlessness—but fullness in love and integrity. This is what Lent shapes us into.
Practice:
Choose one area to practice greater holiness and honesty today. Write it down.
📜 Readings for Saturday
- Psalm 118:5,8: “I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word.”
- Psalm 55:2–3,7: “But let Your yes be Yes, and your No, No. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
- Romans 12:1–21: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.”
- James 1:12–21: “Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
- Acts 2:17–39: “Peter said, Let us go to Jerusalem for the name of Christ.”
- Psalm 5:1–2: “Give ear to my words… Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, for to You I will pray.”
- Matthew 5:38–48: “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
📅 Sunday – Seek the Kingdom (Again)
Key Verse – Matthew 6:33 (NKJV):
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Reflection:
We circle back to the foundation of this week—seeking God first. Everything else is added when our hearts are fixed on the eternal.
Practice:
Renew your focus today. Use Psalm 24:4–5 in your morning prayers and recommit your Lent journey to Christ.
📜 Readings for Sunday
- Vespers Psalm – Psalm 17:3–4
- Vespers Gospel – Luke 6:34–7:12
- Psalm – Psalm 17:1
- Matins Gospel – Matthew 7:22–29
- Pauline – Romans 13:1–14
- Catholic – James 1:21–27
- Acts – Acts 2:14–40
- Liturgy Psalm – Psalm 24:1–2,4
- Gospel – Matthew 6:19–33
What Does “Preparation for the Procession” Mean?
“Set your heart in order. Cleanse your mind. Light your lamp. Christ is coming—walk behind Him.”
The phrase “Preparation for the Procession” beautifully captures the spirit of Week One of Great Lent in the Coptic Orthodox Church.
It is a call to ready ourselves for a sacred march—not a physical one, but a deeply spiritual journey that mirrors Christ’s own path toward the Cross and Resurrection.
To prepare is to:
- Cleanse the heart through prayer, confession, and fasting
- Detach from worldly distractions
- Reorient the soul toward the Kingdom
The procession is the Church’s holy walk with Christ—from the wilderness of temptation to the victory of Pascha. It is a journey of repentance, struggle, and grace.
This first week is not a destination—it is a doorway. A solemn beginning. A time to ask:
“Am I ready to walk with Christ?”
Let each verse, each reading, and each reflection this week be a step in your procession toward the Cross—and ultimately, the Resurrection.
“Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and All things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
