First Sunday of Lent 2019

The First Sunday of Lent always begins with Jesus being “led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days.” There is a lot of history and tradition tied up in that short statement. It alludes the story of Israel and God’s chosen people spending forty years in the desert before entering into the promised land. It was there in the desert where they were tested and gave into temptation. Jesus is also tempted in the desert, but unlike Israel, he does not give in. Jesus’ time in the desert redeems the people of Israel.

Like Jesus, like the people of Israel, each of us will experience many “deserts” in our lives. Periods of spiritual dryness. Periods of temptation. Periods of challenge when we doubt God’s presence and guidance. The question then becomes: will we be like the people of Israel in the desert, who are unfaithful? Or will we follow the example of Jesus, who shows us strength, perseverance, and faith in the face of temptation?

During this Lenten season, each one of us is called to embrace this example of Jesus. We are called to grow deeper in our faith and trust in God during the desert moments, the challenges, of our lives. May our Lenten journey always bring us closer to our God, who loves us and redeems us.