The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.
Mark 1:12-13
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.
Mark 1:12-13
I think the only desert climate I've been to is Arizona. I visited a small part of Arizona about 10 years ago. I never thought I would like the desert (not that what I experienced was a true desert), but I found unexpected beauty there. I've seen pictures of what the Judean desert, the desert Jesus went into, looks like. It's much more rocky than I had imagined. In other Gospels we hear the details of Satan tempting Jesus - saying "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread" (Matt 4:3). Can you imagine being in the midst of a 40 day fast and everywhere you look you see stones - stones that could be turned into bread. What a temptation!
It's in the desert where we face our demons. A few years ago our Lenten Teen Retreat used the theme "Into the Desert". I would have to say that that retreat was one of the deepest, most moving retreats I've been a part of. The kids (and us adults along for the journey) were asked to go into the desert and look at what we struggle with. It was different for every person, some were dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts; some with abusive relationships, some with substance abuse; some with doubt in God. We spent three days in deep conversation, meditation, and prayer. One of the things I walked away with was a new understanding of the importance of going into the desert every so often to truly examine what it is that pulls me away from God. Satan comes at us under many disguises. It is in the desert, when everything that normally distracts us is pulled away, that we are able to see more clearly.
One of the things I most like about this passage is that it says "The Spirit drove Jesus into the desert..." Jesus didn't just wander in there, He was pushed there. And He wasn't in the desert alone, the Gospel tells us that "angels ministered to him". How, we don't know, but we do know they were there. Is the Holy Spirit driving you into the desert this Lent? If so, know you're not there alone, the Spirit accompanies you. What in your life do you need ministering to?
Please share your thoughts with us by posting a comment.
The passage and your comment place an interesting challenge out there for us/me. I've been trying to figure out 'what I will make of lent this year', but you set the question differently. Am I willing to go into the desert as a matter of discovery, open to facing the demons, the commitments I avoid, the invitations I've been deaf to? Am I willing? You remind me that I do not go alone, but rather with the spirit. You've set the bar high. I can at least begin...take the first steps. thank you!
ReplyDelete