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Can you imagine what it was like for Jesus to spend 40 days in the desert living among wild beasts? We aren't given all the details, but in our humanity, we can imagine what it felt like for him to be hungry, scared, uncomfortable and lonely for so long, assaulted by weather conditions and the darkest temptations Satan could conjure up.
During the season of Lent, we’re invited to follow Christ by creating our own desert experience, incorporating more prayer, fasting and almsgiving into our daily lives. This can lead us to experience our own dark temptations and sufferings to varying degrees, depending on how deeply we lean into our Lenten sacrifices.
Lent isn’t a season of suffering for no reason though - far from it! It’s a season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ - literally in the liturgical year and also interiorly, in our own hearts. Lent is an invitation to give up a small comfort for a greater share of unity with the Holy Spirit, a greater surrender into God’s holy will.
In his desert time, scripture tells us that angels ministered to Jesus. As we journey through Lent, angels minister to us too. Lent is an opportunity to gain greater awareness of the invisible world around us. Angels, Jesus, Mother Mary, saints - they’re all here walking with us through our own struggles and sacrifices. As we work to purify our own hearts in the face of temptation, we can become more in tune with the spiritual reality, which is the gift Christ ultimately died for each of us to receive.
The Kingdom of God truly is at hand, just like Jesus proclaimed, when he walked the earth in a physical body.
After his time of trial in the desert, Jesus was well prepared to live out his salvific mission for all of mankind. Even after his own cousin’s arrest, he had the courage, grace and bold faith to proclaim the gospel, calling each of us into repentance and deeper belief in God.
After our Lenten journey, we too can be better prepared to live out our own calling from God.
Lord, as we walk together as Ambrosians through this Lenten season, send angels to minister to us. Help us to grow in our connection to you, and embolden us to live out our callings with courage, love and grace.
