Lent is a journey that we must make throughout our lives. As we travel in the desert of our personal formation and transformation in Christ Jesus we are never alone. We are led by the Spirit of God who speaks for us, strengthens us and guides us on our way. Luke tells us that Jesus “was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days.” (Lk 4,1) The Spirit leads Jesus into the desert to pray and be with the Father where he can be strengthened for the mission that has been entrusted to him and he can know fully who he is and what the Father’s will is for his life. We are also led by the Spirit on our journey into the divine life and will, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (Rom 8,14) As children of God, we live in the freedom of the children of God and must not submit to the yoke of slavery to sin that the world wants to lay upon us. During Lent we turn away from sin and its slavery and we return to the Father and reclaim our freedom and responsibility to live in love. Throughout his time in the desert, the Spirit remains with Jesus to be his refuge and strength and when he finishes his time in the desert, Luke tells us, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” (Lk 4,14) Lent is indeed a spiritual journey for us as the Spirit of God leads us and guides us deeper and deeper into love and the obedience of faith.
On our spiritual journey, as we pass through the desert, the Spirit of Love and Truth is not our only companion, there is also a counter-spirit, a divider, a deceiver, an accuser who is known as the evil one, the devil, the satan. Satan is constantly demanding to put us to the test and to submit us to his temptations. Luke also tells us that Jesus was in the desert “to be tempted by the devil.” (Lk 4,1) It is the devil that tempts us and tries to lead us away from love and eternal life and into sin and death. The devil is well-acquainted with our weaknesses and he knows that if there is to be freedom in the world then there also needs to be the possibility of the refusal of love and goodness in favor of selfish desires, pride and power. Even Peter and the apostles were put to the test by Satan, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22,31f) We all are tempted by the devil but we also have an advocate who prays for us and strengthens our faith. The gospels tell us of three temptations that Satan presented to Jesus but it is most likely that Satan was constantly tempting Jesus and submitting him to the test throughout his time in the desert. Luke concludes this journey of Jesus into the desert with the summary, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.” (Lk 4,13) Jesus had to endure every temptation at the hand of Satan.
In this First Sunday of Lent, we are reminded that it is not God who tempts us or who sets traps for us. Too often people place the blame for human weakness and evil action upon God. James writes, “Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” (James 1,12-14) God is never our enemy, he is our friend. The writer of Hebrews assures us, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” (Heb 4,14-16) We often are in need of this “grace for timely help” from Jesus. This Lent, remember that Jesus is praying for you and the Spirit is walking with you so that you may remain faithful in love to the Father in the face of every temptation to follow some path other than love in your life’s journey.