Word to the Wise
Sunday, February 22, 2015 - 1st Sunday of Lent - B
[Gen 9:8-15; 1 Pet 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15]The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts and the angels ministered to him. [Mark]
The Gospel of Mark does not give us all the drama that Matthew and Luke do about Jesus' stay in the desert. We get just a bare account. We learn nothing of the big temptations to turn stones into bread, jump off the temple or gain all the wealth in the world. The focus seems more on the message that Jesus would preach: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel."
I think there is an important challenge in this bare bones account. We can become focused on the observance of Lent - what we are giving up or what we are taking up - that we forget WHY we are bserving Lent. Yes, we do need to do penance, but again there is a reason for this. The reason is the message. Would anyone guess from our giving up a favorite food that the "time of fulfillment" has come? Jesus' struggles in the desert had a purpose- to prepare for his mission to preach and heal. His life as a carpenter was over and would never be the same. Can we say that after Lent?
Will our observance of Lent prepare us to be "missionary disciples," as Pope Francis has challenged us to be? What are we going to do after our 40 days in the desert of Lent? The gospel tells us the story of what Jesus did. But what are we going to do? AMEN