Luke 4:1-4

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” vss. 1-2a

Even though the numbers don’t quite add up, the season of Lent is meant to replicate the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. For Jesus these were a Spirit-led extended time of reflection and meditation, during which he considered a series of options for his ministry. These options were tests and Luke says they were orchestrated by the devil. Evidently the Spirit did not have a “messiah handbook” for Jesus to study before he began his work, and the direction of his life was not yet planned out. In other words, Jesus faced the possibilities for life in much the same way we do, except that we generally don’t go on retreat before we begin our work. The devil’s main objective was to divert Jesus from his call to sacrificial service by considering more worldly alternatives. We certainly aren’t strangers to those kinds of temptations. In a world where success is defined as the accumulation of power and wealth, some choose careers that will bring them lots of money. Thoughts of service are far from their minds. All of these things are worth our reflection, no matter what season of life we’re in. And it’s never too late to follow the urgings of the Spirit, and say no to the devil’s plans.

Thought for the Day: What might the Spirit have in mind for me?