"Temptation in the Wilderness"  by artist, Briton Riviere 

“And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” Mark 1:12,13
 

Each of us has had to persevere when we have experienced insurmountable odds, extreme pressure and obstacles that take over the very fiber of our being.  So as we try to imagine and comprehend the many temptations of Jesus we fall incredibly short.   The Lenten journey offers an invitation for reflection and self-examination in order to give us a glimpse of the path of Jesus to the cross and still be able to celebrate the fullness of Easter morning.   Lent is a time of contemplation, a time of dedication and preparation.  In our tradition, we have sometimes been tempted to gloss over Lent and Holy Week in a rush to get to Easter, but it is in this journey of contrition, repentance and darkness that we learn to fully embrace the splendor of the triumph of Christ over sin and death on Resurrection morning.

Jesus, like you and I faced temptations daily and one of His more challenging times was when He was in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights fasting.   His ability to withstand not eating puts us all to shame.   Most of us would not have made it to 40 hours much less 40 days and nights.  Nevertheless, when the enemy comes to tempt Jesus to turn the stones into loaves of bread to eat, Jesus responds by saying, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

I imagine Satan did everything in his power to coerce Jesus to turn the stones into loaves of bread to eat.  Jesus remained steadfast in not giving in to His weakness, exhaustion and hunger.   In our weakened conditions we are all at risk to falter under pressure.  Jesus gives us the perfect example to face the tempter.  Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10)  Once Jesus says this, the enemy leaves him.  Turning to God in every instance is the one true way we can hold up under pressure.

The experience of Jesus in the wilderness shows us not only what is good, but what is better.  The enemy comes to tempt Jesus when he is at his weakest.  Rather than merely hating what is evil, Jesus holds fast to what is good.  By speaking out the good and life-giving word of God, evil flees from him. The enemy leaves him.

Friends, welcome to the desert of Lent 2021.  Christ has called us here together in prayer and fasting that we might seek God’s holy face.  This will not always be a comfortable journey.  It will be unpleasant, there will be temptations and we will be in uncharted territory.  But maybe in this desert place, God is teaching us new things and is working all things together for the good.  Perhaps as we deny ourselves and seek our Maker, we will identify with the God who took on our flesh, the God who goes to the desert, the God who goes to the cross for us.  Keep your eyes open in this season.  You never know what good you may find on the journey.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we all have so much to learn from You and about ourselves.  Help us to use this Lenten time to examine our lives and trust in Your plan.  Help us to surrender those things that hold us back from giving our all to You.  Your faithfulness to us is unquestionable.  May we grow in this season with You.  In Christ’s Holy Name We Pray, Amen.
 

My love and prayers,

Ann