"At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him." (Mark 1: 12 - 13).
This is how Mark the Evangelist narrated the Temptation of Jesus. Pretty laconic but everything is there. Let us examine the keywords and see how they apply to our Lenten Journey.
#1. The Spirit: Note that the Spirit initiates the Temptation. The word for temptation in Greek is scandalon which may apply to trials/tests or temptation to sin. God never tempts anybody to commit sin. (James 1: 13) But as a father trains and disciplines his children, so does Abba Father trains us.
#2 Desert: The Place or period of temptation or tests.
"Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him." (James 1: 12).
#3. 40 Days: The classical period of trials in the Bible. Moses, Elijah and Jesus endured 40 Days of trials. The early Church saw the mystical value of 40 Days and prescribed 40 days as the duration for the Lent. The Lent is an early institution of the Church and is also a period when the Catechumens (those preparing to enter the Easter Church at Easter Vigil undergo their final scrutinies).
#4. Satan: Our mortal foe.
"Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death." (James 1: 14 - 15).
What are these sins?
"For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world." (1 John 2: 16).
#5 Angel: Your Guardian Angel accompanies you closely in life especially in the Lenten Journey.
May God grant us all the grace to make the best of this Lenten Journey.
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