Jesus was led into the desert by the spirit. This emphasized His cooperation with the will of God the Father. He was willing to go where He was being led instead of resisting the call that came His way.
The desert was a place of preparation for His coming public ministry. While here he prayed and fasted for a period of forty days and nights. The desert is a place of solitude and silence where one is able to withdraw from the noise of this world.
While here He came to be tempted by the assaults of the devil. Nevertheless, He held fast solid in faith and did not allow the devil to lead Him astray. To each lie that the devil threw His way He overcame with the truth of scripture.
We have now entered into this sacred season of Lent. Hopefully we see this season as an opportunity to grow in our life of faith. The allures of the devil are real, but despite them we can overcome these temptations through the assistance of the outpouring of God’s grace.
Through our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we better orient our sight unto God. We allow that which has grown disordered in our life to be brought back to it’s proper purpose. These actions prepare us for an encounter with Christ, especially our encounter when Him arisen at Easter.
Therefore, we cannot just pass through this season as if we are in a slumber. Nor can we pass through our life as if we are asleep. The spiritual warfare that surrounds us is something which is most serious and therefore we must remain vigilant in our practice of faith.
The Israelites passed through the dessert for a period of forty years until they finally reached the promise land. This time is symbolic of our life’s journey towards Heaven. We must set our sight upon this pearl of great price and strive with the help of God’s grace to obtain it.
As was stated by Saint Anthony of the Desert, “The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross.”
May this season be a time in which we are willing to be led by the Spirit into the desert. Through our prayer and sacrifices we choose to change our life in order that our time may be made for Christ and we may be transformed in His presence.
This season of Lent will help us to undergo such a transformation if we allow it. Let us not be led away from here by the ways of this world, but by the Spirit. If we are found willing to cooperate with the Spirit we will be found ready for Easter and too the Kingdom of Heaven.
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