Today’s Gospel: The
Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the
wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and
the angels ministered to him. 14 Now
after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the
gospel." Mark
1:12-15
Reflection: The Holy
Scriptures have a lot of wonderful things to share about the beautiful things
the Holy Spirit does and energizes in every individual who welcomes him in
their lives.
Taking
from these instances and the personal experiences of people we normally hear of
the many testimonies concerning the wonderful happiness and joy the Paraclete
brings in their lives. One has only to sit among audiences testifying to the work
of the Holy Spirit and one will hear of healing s and deliverances and other
mighty works.
Can
the Holy Spirit work negatively in the human sense? Yes, and in today’s Gospel we have one such
mighty example of Jesus being driven into the wilderness, where he is there for
40 days. The dessert is no rosy affair
but a hard life as it holds the many things that are detrimental to life and
its comforts.
Though
every individual, baptized in the Holy Spirit, has to go through the desert,
the immediacy of it could vary depending on the readiness and willingness of
the heart to serve God in whatever circumstances as possible. But God’s presence and consolation is always
there even in the most trying desert of our life.
Lent
is a beautiful opportunity to prepare one’s heart to welcome the wilderness
which every individual has to pass through in order to enter into life.
Prayer: Lord
as you take me through the wilderness of life, may I not rebel against you nor
grieve you but instead recognize your presence with me in all gratitude. (cfr. Ps. 78:40)
DD = Dedicated Discipleship: Come grow in the Lord with us
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