![]() He says that the “Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert” (Mk 1:12). Mark expresses this a little differently. ‘Driven’ by the SpiritĪll the three accounts of Jesus’ forty days in the desert tell us that it was the Spirit that led him into the wilderness. During this pandemic, let us find meaning in our identity as God’s sons and daughters, and let us embrace the mission that emerges from our identity. To embrace life like Jesus did to live life generously like Jesus did to love selflessly like Jesus did – this is our mission. ![]() Our life and our mission become the imitation of Christ. The implication of becoming conscious of our identity as God’s sons and daughters is that it begins to affect our daily living. Let us choose to live more intentionally as the children of God. Let us become more conscious of our dignity as God’s children. As Mark reveals Jesus’ identity as the “Beloved Son,” let us too deepen our identity as God’s sons and daughters. Without making this holy season harder than it already has been, I suggest we enter the desert with Jesus and focus on our identity and mission. What does this mean for us? The last year has been like a desert, has it not? Now we enter the forty days of the Lenten wilderness. His focus is on the mission that flows from his identity. For Mark, then, it is not the temptations themselves that is the focal point. He is declared Son of God before he entered the desert and emerging from the desert, he inaugurated the Kingdom of God. ![]() In other words, the desert becomes the link between Jesus’ identity and his mission. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1: 14-15). We get to hear Jesus very first words, “The kingdom of God is at hand. After the temptation, emerging from the desert, Mark’s Jesus begins his ministry. Before Jesus entered the desert, he was baptized and a voice from heaven affirmed him as “my beloved Son” (Mk 1:9-11). Marks only tells us what happened before he went into the desert and after he emerged from the desert. While Matthew and Luke describe Jesus’ forty days in the desert in great detail, Mark completely skips it. There is a big difference between Mark’s account of Jesus in the desert, and the Matthean and Lukan accounts. ![]() As hard as life has been the last year, it is the meaning that Christ gives to our lives that becomes our hope. Because when we do so, we will realize life takes on a deeper meaning. ![]() I am inviting you to enter the wilderness with him. Rather, they are meant to help us enter the wilderness with Christ, who took upon himself the task of our redemption. These points are not meant to make life harder than it already is. I would like to offer three points for reflection. As if the last twelve months have not felt like a long Lent! But here we are. And then she winked and said, “I am giving YOU up for Lent.” It was one of those rare times when I did not have a comeback. Honestly, I don’t remember what my response was. After the prayers, she asked me what I was giving up for Lent. I visited her a couple of years back on Ash Wednesday because she had requested ashes. She was a very pious woman and had a great sense of humor. Yesterday, I celebrated the funeral of the woman who gave me my favorite Lent story. A reflection on the Sunday readings for Februthe First Sunday in Lent ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |