Lenten Reflection
“Reflection for the second week of Lent” Al Veik, Capuchin
A significant ministerial experience for me has, and continues to be, ministry to the imprisoned. This world has affected me in significant ways as I open the Scriptures and approach the liturgical themes of the Church calendar. This is true not only for my understanding of the imprisoned, but also for myself and for those of us who enjoy our freedom from incarceration. The Gospel of the first Sunday of Lent launches our period of forty days of lent by remembering that, "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, where he was tempted by the devil" (Mt. 4, vs. 1). I continue to be struck by the power of the analogy of the desert experience of the Israelites and of Jesus himself, with that of the experience of the imprisoned and for all of us.
Deserts are at the same time beautiful places and dangerous places. They are specialized physical environments that challenge the life of the unprepared. Venturing into the desert without lunch or drink is to court death. While for the prisoner, and for most of us, food and water is provided, we sometimes find ourselves in the kinds of places that are arid when it comes to emotional and physical tenderness, affection, touch, and spiritual support. The desert is the kind of place that does not provide all of the elements needed to sustain the life of the ordinary person. The human spirit needs to bring its lunch along from other sources in order to feed the spirit.
The desert might also be referred to as a place for a test, or a battle with the spirits. Jesus was tempted by the devil and conquers the temptations by the power of the spirit of God. So too, the experience of our needs can be compared to a time of testing and battle of the spirits.
The lenses connecting the desert and the experience of prison have helped me to focus on life experiences shared by all of us. I have come to a new appreciation that I, too, have often been led into the desert by God to experience over and over again the mercy of God and the dynamics of learning to depend on resources well beyond those that I can bring on my own.
The readings for lent this year remind us of the years of servitude in Egypt by the Israelites, and the years in exile in Babylon. Yet, in spite of the calamity, the loving care of God brings them periods of deliverance and reestablishment. The first readings of Lent this cycle are a picture of God's loving providence over a very needy people.
The Gospels walk us from the desert test by Jesus, through his transfiguration, with hints of his impending death. This theme is picked up in the remaining weeks of lent with teachings about the importance of keeping prepared for death at all times.
We know all too well that our experiences of desert and dependence ultimately require resources well beyond us. This might be especially true when we approach any experience of death or diminishment. We have also experienced over and over, as did the Israelites and the disciples of Jesus, that the compassion and mercy of God has nurtured these times.
The experience of Easter following the reflective time of Lent is just this kind of reality. We have a God who is alive and well in Galilee, the risen Jesus, who accompanies all of us through our desert times.
Risen Jesus you came to the early church with your spirit to help them remember your words and deeds. They embraced the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to accompany them in their desert experiences. As you have with the early church and the Israelites of old, continue to journey with us.
Amen.