Wilderness

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Wilderness

Our Temptations

Testing   Resisting   Overcoming

Led by the Spirit

Victory

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Matthew 4:1

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Reflection

When I think of wilderness, I imagine excitement and adventure. I get ready to explore an area that is unknown to me. A place that I have never experienced. What will I encounter?

As Jesus goes into the wilderness, He is preparing Himself for the unknown. What will His public ministry involve? Whom will He encounter as He travels around the various towns? Will people be open to hearing His message?

His first encounter is with the devil. There are temptations that He will have to deal with that are very much like our temptations: physical pleasure, belief in the providence of God, and seeking power and dominance.

Jesus deals with these temptations by turning to the Word of God. He knows that God has given us guidance in the scriptures to help us meet the challenges that we face. We are never left alone.

The testing that we go through in our individual wilderness helps form the person we are becoming. We are called upon to make choices: will I choose my own pleasure and comfort, or will I share my resources with those who are in need?

I have to resist the temptation to test God as Jesus resisted it. I can easily demand that God do what I want. In my egotistical way, I can feel that I know better than God. I question God and point out my own wisdom which I feel is superior to God's way.

As I resist temptation, I can begin to overcome my pride and realize that God will lead me. My trust in God begins to grow. I know that God leads me to peace.

As I face the many temptations of pleasure, pride, and power, I start to understand that the Holy Spirit is leading me. I begin to feel the power of the Spirit as I realize that giving into those temptations will not lead me to wisdom and truth but to a wilderness of emptiness and isolation.

The pleasures will fade, the pride will crumble, and the power will collapse. I see that these are all temporary and I search for something that is lasting. I find that in my relationship with the One who has won the Victory.

Jesus has overcome these temptations. He has shown me the path to follow: ponder the Word of God, follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, and grow each day in the Gift of God's Love.

Rejoice in the Victory!

1. What is your image of the wilderness?

2. How do you overcome the temptations you face?

3. Does the Word of God assist you as you encounter challenges in your life?

4. Has the Holy Spirit ever led you into the wilderness?

5. What message do you get as you ponder Kathy's photo of the wilderness?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)