Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, which lasts forty days (Sundays not included) before Easter. During the forty days, we repent, fast, and pray, and are reminded of our mortality and need for repentance. During the imposition of ashes, we hear the words, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.”
My favorite scripture reading during the season of Lent is the Temptation of Jesus found in the synoptic gospels (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; and Luke 4:1-13). Each gospel tells the story in its own unique way, with Mark including Jesus’ baptism in the narrative and only two verses about Jesus’ temptation. Over the years of ministry, I have discovered that many miss a very important detail in the story. When asked how Jesus arrived in the wilderness after his baptism, many will say with confidence that “the devil took him there”, only because the devil was the tempter. According to scripture, Jesus was driven or led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he was tempted three times by the devil, to turn stones into bread to satiate his physical hunger from fasting, to test God’s protection by throwing himself from the top of the mountain to see if angels would catch him, and to obtain power over all the kingdoms if he worshiped the devil. We know that Jesus’ rebuttal through scripture dominated each temptation, leaving the devil defeated and with no other choice but to leave Jesus stranded on that mountain, where angels came to tend to Jesus.
In our mortality, we fall into daily temptations to sin. Some temptations are easy to overcome, and others are not. One thing that needs to be clarified is that God does not tempt us into sinning. God would never put anything between God and us that would separate us from God. However, we go through trials that strengthen our faith in God.
During Lent, we are encouraged to fast, pray, reflect, repent, and renew our minds, bodies, and souls, and to experience gratitude, compassion, and humility through God’s forgiveness. I like to call this growth that comes from the wilderness journey. Because we are led or driven by the Spirit into these life wilderness seasons, we can survive life temptations to better prepare for the ministries God has called us to. Jesus did not fall into the three temptations the devil adorned and proposed. Instead, Jesus overcame because, during his time in the wilderness, he prayed, fasted, and looked forward to the mission and ministry God had prepared for him. Jesus’ mission was to teach us to practice prayer, mercy, compassion, love for God, self, and neighbor, and to forgive one another; to come before the Lord to act justly; to love mercy; and to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:6-8).
During this season of Lent, you may want to practice spiritual disciplines; if not all, begin by focusing on one or two. The Spiritual Disciplines recognized by The United Methodist Church are: (umc.org/spiritualdisciplines)
- Meditation: Reflecting on God’s word and presence, allowing for deeper understanding and connection.
- Prayer: Engaging in conversation with God, which includes listening and speaking, and fostering a personal relationship with the Divine.
- Fasting: Abstaining from food or certain activities to focus on spiritual growth and reliance on God.
- Study: Engaging with Scripture and other spiritual writings to deepen understanding and faith.
- Simplicity: Living with less to focus on what truly matters in life, fostering a deeper relationship with God.
- Solitude and Silence: Taking time away from distractions to listen to God and reflect inwardly.
- Submission: Yielding to God’s will and authority in our lives, recognizing His sovereignty.
- Service: Engaging in acts of kindness and service to others as an expression of faith and love.
- Confession: Acknowledging and repenting of sins, seeking forgiveness and restoration.
- Worship: Participating in communal and personal worship to honor and glorify God.
- Guidance: Seeking spiritual direction through prayer and counsel from others.
- Hospitality: Welcoming others into our lives and communities, reflecting God’s love and grace.
- Celebration: Recognizing and rejoicing in God’s goodness and blessings in our lives.
See you on the other side of the wilderness journey, where there is always a resurrection!
In Christ,
Pastor Iraida