PCS 205 - Introduction to the Sunday Lenten Old Testament Readings
This enrichment course focuses on the six Sunday Lenten readings from the Old Testament. The Sunday liturgy includes readings from the Torah, the Five Books of Moses; from the Nevi’im, the prophetic section of the Old Testament and from the Ketuvim, the Writings, a section of the Tanach which includes specific books like Psalms.
The 40 days of Lent guide Christians through a period of spiritual growth and of self-examination. Each Sunday’s liturgy focuses on a topic leading up to the Holy Week’s reflection on the Passion and Resurrection. The themes of Sunday Lent readings include Repentance/Teshuvah, Prayer/Tefillah, Fasting/Tzom, and Almsgiving/Tzedakah.
We will read and explore the themes found in the assigned Old Testament texts, explore various commentaries, and then discuss how they may be used in a liturgical setting. As a bonus, I will chant some of the readings in Hebrew. A pdf glossary of key Old Testament/Hebrew Bible study terms will be provided.