By Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

In the Bible, fleeing to the desert is what holy people do for a while to prepare for a mission that God gives them. Moses and Elijah passed time in the desert before fulfilling their missions. John the Baptist and Jesus did the same. Jesus returned to the wilderness often, and he prayed all night before appointing his Twelve Apostles. After St. Paul had his vision of Christ, he fled to the wilderness for three years for before visiting Peter and beginning his mission. St. John was in the wilderness on the Isle of Patmos when God revealed the great apocalyptic vision. The Book of Revelation also says that, when the Church is pursued by Satan, she takes refuge in the desert. Christ was taken to the desert by St. Joseph to flee the persecutions of king Herod.

The wilderness is a solemn place, though austere. The prophet Hosea hears God’s voice say to his beloved spouse, Israel, “I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her heart” (Hosea 2:16). And again, God says, “Like finding grapes in the desert, I have found Israel” (Hosea 9:10). Likewise, Holy Spirit invites us to the wilderness of Lent to “Speak tenderly to our hearts.” He finds us sweetly available to him, “like grapes in the desert.”

And for us, what is this wilderness? It is the desert of fasting, almsgiving, penance, and prayer. It is the desert of solitude with God. That’s the desert of Lent. It is a fruitful and life-giving desert if we are willing deny ourselves for the sake of following Christ.

And finally, I’d like to point out, that Lent prepares us for the End of Time. As Christ’s life and death prepared him for his Resurrection, so the disciplines of Lent prepare us for our own resurrection at the Last Judgment. During this holy season, allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into the desert of penance and prayer. May He enkindle the divine flame of Love in your hearts and make you attentive and watchful for the coming of Christ.