First Sunday of Lent

The Spirit drove Jesus 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.

Sometimes the Spirit of God drives us to risk ourselves. He asks us to go out into the desert of the great unknown and leave behind our lives of comfort for something greater. When we are called in such a manner we must imitate Christ and be ready to go, even to those places where we might not want to travel. When we make such a major change in our lives we will be tempted by Satan to turn back, to give up, and let someone else do it. We will run into people who turn on us like wild beasts and say to us: Are you crazy? Why do you want to do that? Why waste your time? However, if we pray about these decisions and discern a call to ministry whether it is official or volunteer, then we should not be afraid to walk into the unknown secure in the knowledge that we are doing it because we love God and want to express our love by serving our neighbor.

Have we ever had a moment in our lives where we felt driven by the Spirit to say or do something? If so, then what thorns did we have to face and what fruits came from our work? Are we willing to leave everything behind and walk into the desert with Jesus?

O Lord, let your Spirit drive us to where you need us to be.

Amen.