The forty days of Lent becomes a time of giving, giving ourselves to God by letting go of those distractions that get in the way of our journey. Jesus was driven by the Spirit to go into the wilderness and subjected himself to being “tempted by Satan” and be in the presence of “wild beasts.” For the past few weeks we have spoken of the demons of our lives that influence if not control our behavior, get in the way of our happiness and prevent us from being more available to God. By going into to the desert Jesus removed himself from the “world, the flesh and the devil."
Of
course we know where and how this will all wind up but Mark’s beginning (Mark1: 19-15) is not
just somber, it’s dark, foreboding and ominous. And while in stark contrast to
last week’s glorious transfiguration, it’s important for us to remember on
this first Sunday in Lent... not because of the penitential nature of Lent ...but
because it represents a prototype of our lives which at times can and will be
dark foreboding and ominous. This is the real us and Jesus in his divinely
inspired incarnation is showing us the way to the kingdom as he provides a
template for us to follow and proclaims that "The
kingdom of God has come near; repent,
and believe in the good news." And as if Jesus’ words need validation,
Mark writes…And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the
Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
So how can Lent be a transformative
experience for us? We need no wilderness or desert, nor do we need to engage in
acts of deprivation. Perhaps being attentive to our behavior, or changing a
routine, removing an habitual act, or adding a novel practice can in some way, sow the
seeds of change and transformation and open our hearts to God. The walk to Jerusalem is a
step by step procession back to God with each prayer and act of compassion and
self-denial.
Through
all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing. It sounds an echo in my
soul; how can I keep from singing? No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to
that rock I’m clinging. Since I believe that love abides, how can I keep from
singing? (from a
Quaker hymn)
In Mark's Gospel, the Holy Spirit is an irresistible force. Perhaps it is because the Gentiles of Mark's community of readers attributed their faith to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit causes Jesus to go into the desert, a place associated alternately with the encounter with God (chiefly in Exodus) and the encounter with evil. Mark specifically says Jesus encounters wild beasts and angels, which might suggest that we encounter the angels and demons that exist within ourselves when we follow Jesus there. Jesus' temptations are a dramatic depiction of the choices we must make every day and the difficulty we face in making those choices. The Holy Spirit can be active in our lives today, not only leading us to the places where we must make pivotal decisions, but working in our hearts and minds to be at one with God's will.
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