By Moana Faana, field support minister

…and above all things, clothe yourselves with the bonds of charity, as with a mantle, which is a bond of perfectness and peace; pray always, that you may not faint until I come: behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.

Jesus endured forty days in the wilderness with the wild beasts. On top of that, Satan tempted him. According to the scripture, Jesus faced his tempter and stayed true to his calling.

In the wilderness, Jesus was tempted to question his faithful and trusting relationship with God. In the wilderness, Jesus not only shaped, but sharpened, his ministry as the anointed one.

The wilderness of life is challenging. Temptations that present themselves often seem innocuous or ambiguous. Through temptation our inner nature is revealed. Temptation challenges us to stand firm on the promises, the initiatives, and the enduring principles of God’s compassion for all. In the wilderness, we are driven to face our own relationship with God and create God’s vision where all are welcomed and invited. No one is banned from God’s vision for all creation.

Lent is not just about resisting the temptations we are facing; it is also about allowing ourselves to be shaped and sharpened to fulfill God’s ultimate vision.

May we be driven into the wilderness to sharpen God’s vision for all people. Trust and praise God always.

Prayer Phrase

“Creation itself will be set free” (Romans 8:21).

Spiritual Practice

Holy Attention

Spend a few moments paying attention wherever you are. Notice what draws your focus surrounding you. Look more closely at detail and color. Notice what pulls or prods within you. How is the God-in-all-things speaking to you through what you see and feel right here, right now?

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.