Weekly HOMILY for March 1, 2009: Lent: A Time to Be Driven into the Desert

1st Sunday of Lent, Cycle B
Our Lady of Grace
March 1, 2009

Lent: Time to Be Driven into the Desert
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


Jesus in the Desert

The Gospel passage that we just heard says this: “The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he … (was) tempted by Satan.”

A current author, Alan Simek, has written about his experience in the deserts of our own American Southwest. He says: “The desert offers the comfort of permanence, the promise of continuity in a world of change.

“But, it is a vast and lonely landscape. Even the best prepared may meet the unexpected, the freak storm, the slip or fall off a trail, the sudden strike of the rattlesnake.

“Only the fool thinks he can rely on his own strength and skill alone. In short, the desert escapes my control.

“For this reason my mind is drawn quietly, naturally toward someone outside myself on whom I can lean. In the desert I think not so much of causes as of The Cause.

“The experience of the desert is … about recognizing God’s glory. And like Jesus, we may meet and be tempted by the Enemy in the desert.

“One thing is certain: If we come to the desert, we will change.”


We Need the Desert

My friends, I have come to believe strongly that we all need a desert and even more so as I continue in my studies in directing Contemplative Retreats.

I am not suggesting that we have to travel to our American Southwest as our author, or to the Judean Wilderness of our slides, as beautiful as they are. But I am saying that we need desert experiences, desert moments, and we need these regularly.

Such experiences are crucial and the Season of Lent beckons us to this. That is why we have this Gospel on the First Sunday of Lent every year.


Our Deserts

Surprisingly so, our own desert can be found in any experience of stillness.

It may be:
1) When we are lying in bed before getting up in the morning or
2) Driving to work alone with no news on or music playing. It may be
3) Sitting in a chair looking at a candle flame or gazing outside at the trees. It may be
4) Walking the NCR Trail or
5) Waiting for our doctor’s appointment. It may be
6) Sitting quietly, even with our eyes closed, here in church before Mass or in the chapel any day of the week. It may be in the
7) Parking lot after you’ve loaded the car with groceries and before you turn on the ignition.

All of these can be our desert experiences or desert moments. And in all these experiences, the key thing is stillness.

Please note; it is not so much an issue of reciting prayers or speaking words to God. It is more an issue of stillness, of being receptive.

In our desert experience, we are to listen to our inner core. We are to listen to God who often speaks to us from the very depths of our being, the very depths of ourselves as persons.


Temptations in Our Deserts

It is in these desert experiences that we almost immediately and naturally become aware of God. And we also become aware of ourselves.

The Gospel says that “Jesus was tempted by Satan” in the desert.

I think, for us, in our desert, we too will become aware:
1) Of our temptations and our sinfulness
2) Of our impatience and anger
3) Of our resentment or alienation from someone
4) Of our insensitivity to the poor and in our looking out only for ourselves
5) Of judging and thinking ill of others
6) Of our lack of trust or of entrusting ourselves to God.

So yes, in the desert, we are first aware of God and of Jesus. And then, we quickly become aware of ourselves – of our humanity and limitations, our temptations and sin.

As the Spirit drove Jesus into the Judean Wilderness, so the same Spirit is driving each of us into our own desert. Can you not feel the drive and need for this?

Know that there may be a desire to resist this being driven either (1) Because we are not ready to be that close to God or (2) Because we know instinctively that the desert will make us aware of ourselves in ways that we may not like.


Go to the Desert

It has been said that, “Reflection is the kind of inaction that alone makes action meaningful and focused on what is good.” Again, “Reflection is the kind of inaction that alone makes action both meaningful and focused on what is good.”

That, my friends, is what the desert will do for each of us. And so, I appeal to you to heed the call of this First Sunday of Lent.

Go to that place of stillness and simply “be” with your God.

By his grace he has planted the desire in you. And there he is awaiting you. What marvelous things can come from such a daily union!