Use Lent as your 40-day wilderness experience with Jesus

On a journey home from church on Ash Wednesday, a boy asked his mother, “Is it true what the priest said when he put ashes on my forehead, ‘Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.’”

The mother responded that it was true and that the Bible tells us we are made from the dust of the earth and when we die we shall also return to dust. The boy said nothing more.

When they arrived home he went to his room to play. A few minutes later he came running into the kitchen screaming, “Mom, come to my room, because I just looked under my bed and somebody is either coming or going!”

Many Christians marked the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Some follow the tradition of putting ashes on the forehead in the form of a cross. This external sign is an expression of an internal desire to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel.

It is a symbol of repentance and a desire to follow the example of Jesus.

We are told in scripture that Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted 40 days and 40 nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘ f you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’’ Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’’ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.” (Matthew 4:1-11)

In this passage, we find some very interesting things that can deepen our understanding of Lent. The first is that Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness and that he was tempted by the devil. During Lent, the Spirit is also leading us to a place where we can experience solitude and focus on our spiritual life with few distractions.

Lent should be seen as our ‘wilderness experience’ for 40 days.

Another reality is we will be tempted; however, like Jesus, we can use scripture as our defense. We see in the passage that Satan’s lies were overcome with the truth of God’s Word. Something else that Jesus offers us are the traditional pillars of Lent — prayer, fasting and almsgiving. They help when we are tempted to focus only on ourselves rather than on God and others.

If you are so busy and distracted right now that you do not know if you are ‘coming or going,’ why not allow the Spirit to lead you into the wilderness with Jesus. You will never regret your decision.

Gerard Bergie is bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Catharines.