As a young man preparing for O-Level exams, history class was a time of interesting and intense debates and discussions.

At that time, in the class, there was a group of five young men who had a keen interest in politics. During our classes we looked at the world politics of the past and attempted to place West Indian politics of the late 1970s into some kind of context as we dreamt of a political future for our West Indian society.

At that time I already had a deep interest in the social teachings of the Church. In our group there was one particular young man who was very clear about his desire to enter active politics.

We both studied, with the help of our teacher (a priest of the Dominican Order), the social teachings of the Church, as we sought to ground ourselves with values and principles that would guide any future contribution we would make in our later years to society.

After leaving college, my friend started working in the production departments of a manufacturing company and eventually worked himself up to the position of production manager. During that time he also involved himself in party politics. Recently, he was appointed to a high political post at the local government level.

Two months ago we got together and he shared with me the experiences he had as he left the comfort and familiarity of his job as production manager (the banks of the River Jordan), and ventured into the uncertainty and difficulty of the world of active politics (the wilderness).

As he shared his experiences, he was absolutely clear on one thing: the values and principles we developed as young men living our college days of the 1970s, which were based on the social teachings of the Church, were the values and principles that he remained true to as he faced the various temptations of life in active politics.

Today, the first Sunday of Lent, the Church, through today’s gospel puts before us the temptations of Jesus. Over the years one of the more popular ways in which we have viewed and understood this passage, was to view it as the trials or tests that Jesus underwent to prepare him for his public ministry here on earth. 

This year, in our meditation on this passage, I wish to propose and understanding that we many not be as familiar with, that the temptations of Jesus was more than the trials he underwent before his public ministry but that they were in fact part of his public ministry. 

In this context we see Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit leaving the Jordan, (the activities he already was engaged in during his ministry), and being led by the spirit through the wilderness (the uncertainty and difficulty of new experiences), being tempted there by the devil for forty days.

As we enter into this meditation we come to realise that Jesus was able to remain true to the ministry he had already begun because he entered this aspect of his ministry “filled with” and “led by” the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was not alone and so he could withstand any and all the temptations of the devil, regardless of how difficult they were, because he depended on the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. To overcome the difficulty of the wilderness and its temptations Jesus depended on what he knew and trusted – the HOLY SPIRIT.

For most of us, facing the wilderness and its temptations is a lonely and frightening experience. But that need not be so. As we enter into our Lenten experience this year let us not be afraid or intimidated by the wilderness or its temptations.

May we bravely and confidently leave the banks of the river Jordan and freely enter “the wilderness” to be “tempted” by the devil, secure in the knowledge that we do so “filled with” and “led by the Holy Spirit”.  It is that Spirit who will be our companion, guide and strength as we respond to every temptation the devil will put before us.

Loving Father, we thank you that we are filled with your Holy Spirit:

• We are rooted in a deep prayer life.
• We are guided by deep values and principles of trust, integrity and justice
• We spend time forming and informing our conscience

Because of this, dear Father, we can allow ourselves to be led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days. Although the temptations are difficult, your Holy Spirit helps us to respond to each one, helping us at each stage to remain true to our life’s ministry.  So that, having overcome all the temptations the devil “leaves us to return at the appointed time”.
Thank you Lord.

Gospel Meditations for February are by Glen Cazoe, a member of the Maloney Parish, the Church of the Incarnation.