The Gospel gives us a hint as to what to expect during Lent. The forty days that prepare Jesus for his ministry are offered to us every year to test our willingness to follow.
In Luke, Jesus is never left alone and even in the desert he has the devil as company for the whole time, not simply the great temptations. This is something we are much more accustomed to – the little temptations that accompany us through life. Even a commitment on Ash Wednesday could be a struggle by this weekend. And why? Because we have a gift in justifying our actions. The same argument for restraint serves to excuse lack of restraint – “sell all you have and give to the poor” against “there will be poor always”. Jesus shows us that just knowing scripture isn’t enough – it isn’t the words – it’s the Spirit.
The Spirit who leads Jesus into the wilderness offers us the same Lenten space; a place of uncertainty; a place to try out our survival techniques; to hear God’s plans for us; to learn who we are in God’s eyes. In the silence of contemplative prayer and the discipline of meditation we share Jesus’ desert experience. In the offering of penance and sacrifice we honour the love and generosity of our Father. In how this informs our life and relationships with others; in how we become hungry for the Spirit and grateful for the grace that allows us to turn away from temptation.