'Thou art my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.' The spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness... forty days tempted by Satan... he was with the wild beasts: and the angels ministered to him.
Mark 1:9-13
Baptism is a time of turning our focus from things of this world to Godly things. The waters of Baptism clear our eyes and our hearts, allowing us to see God's work in and expectations for our daily lives. What better place to go to experience the meaning of that change than in the wilderness. A wilderness that can be a stark and scary place, but which can also be a magical place where we see more clearly and the differentiation of dark from light seems to be easier.
During his time in the wilderness, Jesus had the opportunity to contemplate and pray about his new life and mission. He had an opportunity to experience the types of challenges that he would face as he pursued his mission in a world not only inhabited by good, but also by evil. A world filled with temptations as well as grace.
Temptations are only bad for us if we give in to them. If we can learn to see them clearly for what they are, and call upon God to give us the strength to resist them, they can strengthen our resolve to pursue our mission of building God's Kingdom here on earth.
Where is your wilderness, that place where you are most often tempted and where you most often feel alone? Can you clearly see the temptations for what they are and resist them? With Jesus' help you can.
The Ven. Kerry J. Smith
