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!
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.
Many among us imagine that Jesus was alone in the wilderness during those 40 days. He was not. Jesus had company. Wild beasts. Angels... and Satan. Non-human life. 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 not behind world hunger, monopoly capitalism, Islamophobia, nor homophobia. Satan is not behind the genocide ongoing in Gaza, nor is he the architect of the dehumanization of the Palestinian People. We all know who are responsible and should be held accountable for all these.
Lent began last Wednesday. Who among us will spend 40 days in the wilderness with non-human beings? Jesus did. God's surprises await us there!
*art, "Jesus is Tempted," (JESUS MAFA, 1973, Cameroon) from Vanderbilt Divinity Library digital archives
