Wilderness conjures up a lot of ambivalent images for us who study scripture. God appeared to a hardheaded Moses through the burning bush in the wilderness. The Israelites wandered almost aimlessly in the wilderness for decades. Many of them died there, including Moses. John the Baptist was a "voice of one calling in the wilderness." The wilderness does not seem like a very hospitable place. Yet, God's surprises abound in the wilderness!
And then there is the number 40, a long time in scripture. It rained 40 days and nights during the time of Noah. Forty years separated the crossing of the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan River. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness. Matthew and Luke add that he fasted. This narrative is the basis for the 40 days of Lent.
Most of us grew up imagining that Jesus was alone in the wilderness during those 40 days. He was not. Jesus had company: wild beasts, angels, and Satan. God's surprises do abound in the wilderness!
My friends, let us never forget. Satan did not betray Jesus. Judas did. Satan did not deny Jesus. Peter did. Satan did not plot to arrest and kill Jesus in secret. The chief priests and scribes did. Satan did not abduct, torture, and murder Jesus. The Romans did.
Satan is also not behind the Anti-Terror Law, the War on the Poor, the War on Drugs, the culture of impunity that pervades our land, the relentless red-tagging of peace activists, or the recent abduction and murder of Teachers Chad and Jurain and the rest of the Bataan 5. We all know who are responsible and should be held accountable for all these.
Lent began last Wednesday. Who among us wants to spend 40 days in the wilderness with Satan? Who among us is ready to respond to the challenges Satan asked Jesus? If we have access to resources, is feeding the hungry enough? If we have glory and authority, for whom will we use these for? If we had angels to command, who will we order them to save and protect?
Who among us is ready to respond to one of the key challenges in the Gospels: if we are rich, are we ready to sell everything we have, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Jesus?
Maybe we should ask these questions to everyone running for public office.
#IAmWithJesus
#Lent2022
#EndTheCultureOfImpunity
#JusticeForNewBataan5
#StopTheKillingsPH
#FreePalestine
#JusticeForMyanmar
#NoToMarcosDuterte2022
#ChooseJustice
*art, "Jesus is Tempted," (JESUS MAFA) from Vanderbilt Divinity Library digital archives
