Filled with the Holy Spirit Jesus was led into the desert. He spent forty days living the desert
life. What people do not often realize about the desert is that besides being stark and
desolate, something wonderful can happen. The desert can also be full of life. Seeds that
were buried long ago suddenly burst into meadows of flowers with only a few days of rain.
The rain comes very rarely at unexpected times.
We too are living in unexpected times having to deal with the pandemic and war. As always,
Jesus shows us the way. He endured all of the temptations that the desert could bring. But
through it all he drew on an inner strength. The memory of his father’s words was present in
his spirit. “You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” The knowledge of his
father’s unconditional love was like “rain bursting into a meadow of flowers.”
In the desert of our discontent, we need to draw on the waters of our Baptism to ward off
what tempts us to lose heart. We are God’s people who also have God’s unconditional love,
and who promises to be with us in all circumstances. Let us trust that our Lent will soon
blossom into the resurrection.
• What has been your experience of the desert?
• Have you ever had a spiritual “desert experience”?
• If so, has this spiritual desert experience led to a more mature Christian life?
O God, help me draw on your unconditional love
to strengthen me through the desert experiences in my life.