Lk.4: 1-13
We have begun our Lenten journey. The season of Lent reminds us of the pilgrim dimension of our earthly sojourn. However, it does not mean that we need to completely isolate ourselves from the world. Rather we need to consider these days of Lent as an opportune moment of spiritual growth by remaining in the world at the same time growing in our intimacy with the Abba like Jesus. In the early centuries, holy men and women detached themselves completely from the world and went into the desert for prayers and penance. In the silence of the desert, in an intense training of senses and in personal discipline they encountered God. What about you and me? Do we need to go to a desert?
Today’s gospel invites us to the desert experience of Jesus. In this season we are constantly in touch with the humanity of Jesus. Why did Jesus go to the desert? Gospel clearly tells us that He was driven by the Spirit. Gospel depicts this event as a preparation for the public ministry of Jesus. This experience became an occasion for Jesus to grow in His intimacy with the Abba. A deeper awareness of his own destiny that He is not destined to remain as a carpenter in Nazareth rather He is the Messiah, the Eternal Logos who is incarnated to redeem the cosmos.
Then how did we understand the temptation of Jesus? These testing moments of Jesus teaches us that temptations are part and parcel of our spiritual journey and we cannot escape from facing these difficulties. What we need to learn from the experience of Jesus is that we continue to respond to the love of God even in those moments of intense fragility. Jesus faced all those difficult moments with his intimacy and fidelity to the Father. It empowers, enlightens and encourages us that as human beings we too can overcome the temptations like Jesus through our Abba experience.
The three temptations of Jesus namely, hunger for various needs, desire to possess the world, and manifestation of one’s own glory, clearly witness the true nature of Jesus that in the midst of all these temptations He sought the glory of His father. As we continue our Lenten journey let us grow in our intimacy with the Abba by remaining in this world but at the same time creating a space of solitude in our hearts that we may encounter our loving Abba over there.