Today is March 9, the First Sunday of Lent.
At today’s Mass, we read: “Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil” (Lk 4:1-2).
Little comfort or distraction exists in the desert. Because of this, it is in the desert that one comes to face himself as he truly is and stands before God without pretense or distraction. Adam and Eve hid in the garden; there is no hiding in the desert.
While the idea of coming face-to-face with God in the desert might be a frightening one, the biblical description of this encounter should give us hope.
An experience of majesty and power
The desert is a place where we see the majesty and power of God. When the Israelites reached Mt. Sinai, the mountain was enveloped in lightning and clouds as God descended to meet his people.
We should also expect to experience the majesty of God in the desert. It might not look like Sinai. Instead, as distractions are limited during Lent, we see God at work in silent yet powerful ways.
An experience of creation and healing
The desert is a place of creation and healing. In the desert, the twelve tribes of Israel were formed into a single holy nation and royal priesthood. When they rebelled against the covenant, God called them back to the desert to heal them: “I will allure her now; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak persuasively to her” (Hos 2:16).
While the desert is barren, it is also peaceful. It is a place of healing. Lent is a special time to repent of our sins and see how God is working to heal our hearts.
An experience of trial and triumph
The desert is a place of trial and triumph. God tested the Israelites in the desert and found them wanting. Over and over, they cried out: “Is the Lord in our midst or not?”
Through the various temptations and trials God allows us to suffer in the desert, whether they be from our own weakness or from our circumstances, we see how God is in our midst, challenging us to grow in strength and resilience as his children. We become more confident in the desert that God is with us and, in that confidence, triumph with him in trial.
Let us pray,
Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
