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The Holy Spirit led Jesus
into the desert for forty days. The desert is very important in the
scriptures. It was the place for testing people and nations. Twice Satan
began the temptations by saying, "If you are the Son of God..." Satan
wanted to learn about Jesus in the desert, but the Holy Spirit had other
plans. Jesus was in the desert to discover who He was and what He was
expected to accomplish.
Lent is our forty days in the desert. It is our time to determine who we
are and what we are all about. Like Jesus we will be tempted. The first
temptation was to change stones into bread. We have hungers in our lives
as well. We are not so much hungry for bread. More often it is for
wealth, power, popularity, or affection that we are starving. The world
is full of delights. The first temptation is to leave the desert
altogether and return to a more comfortable way of life. Why do Lent?
What's the point anyway? It's a bother.
Jesus' second temptation was to bow down before Satan. The devil
promised so much power. In our lives the temptation is to say that the
world is hopeless. Not a thing can be done about it. It's too late. We
might as well go along and get along. What difference can one person
make? We will never know if we just give up. God might have great plans
in mind for you!
The third temptation for Jesus was to throw himself down from the top of
the temple so that angels would save him. From the beginning of time
Satan has tried to force God's hand. Don't we do the same? Why doesn't
God hear my prayer? Why isn't God doing what I want? So often our
prayers are instructions for God. Do we ever seek His will for us?
Before beginning his public ministry Jesus was tempted in the desert.
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit the temptations clarified Jesus'
understanding of his mission and his relationship to the Father. The
Holy Spirit can help us use this Lent as if it were our desert. It can
be a time to examine our relationships to God, to one another, and to
ourselves. The tools of Lenten discipline: prayer, fasting, and
almsgiving can help us discover how to use our gifts according to the
Father's plan for us.
Again this year, we will distribute booklets with scriptural thoughts
and reflections for our Lenten journey with the Lord. Please be sure to
take one of these booklets for anyone who could benefit from it. Our
small faith groups will be meeting again during Lent. Be sure to attend
your group or call Doris at the rectory to join a group during this
season.
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