SPIRITUAL MUSCLE
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. – Luke 4:1-2
On Monday evening of this week, our Hindu friends observed Maha Shivaratri. Many held vigil throughout the night, marking the epic battle between goodness and evil, seeking to be the light that overcomes the darkness. This tension is believed to be an ongoing struggle, and will one day be ultimately resolved. In the meantime, the faithful stand firm, opposing those forces that seek to do harm.
In a similar fashion, Christians entered the Season of Lent on Wednesday, commencing the 40-day struggle that Jesus has with the devil in the wilderness. During this particular battle, Jesus is tempted to be nourished by food alone, yield to the authority of the devil, and to put God to the test. In every way, he resists these forces, embracing the light of God in the face of darkness.
These religious observances, and others of the like, are meant to build spiritual muscle. It may be the case that followers are, in fact, in a coinciding period of gloom and strife. If so, they are able to find solace, standing in solidarity with fellow pilgrims. But, even if their own circumstances don’t currently line up with the religious narrative, walking these wilderness journeys serve as preparation for when darkness begins to loom.
As our Upper Division Sacred Texts Club gathered this week, we examined the temptation of Christ from Luke’s Gospel. After sitting with the text and giving it room to breathe, one of our students, Alex Blau, made a keen observation. He wondered if the temptation was less about food, authority, and doubt, but instead more oriented on what happens during seasons when it feels as if God is nowhere to be found. For, parallel accounts of this encounter make it clear that the angels came to attend to Jesus after the wilderness period (leaving one to wonder where God’s presence was during those 40 days).
I found his insight to be transformative. Because, even though I believe God to be fully present in the world at all times and in all places, my body, my mind, and my heart are not always in tune. There are, most assuredly, times and seasons when God seems to be missing in action. This mystery is not just felt on a personal level, but can also be observed in a broader sense. In other words, darkness and evil forces can take the shape of a cloud above my own head, but may surely lurk over the collective heads of a community or a nation.
Yes, the perceived absence of God can be the most powerful of all temptations; the darkest of all nights. In these moments, the spiritual muscle gained from facing evil head-on, with regularity, can prove to be the balm of salvation.
It is in this spirit that my prayers go out to our Hindu and Christian friends, along with anyone who is facing a season of strife or grief. May the presence of God break through the wilderness, embracing all in need.
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On Monday evening of this week, our Hindu friends observed Maha Shivaratri. Many held vigil throughout the night, marking the epic battle between goodness and evil, seeking to be the light that overcomes the darkness. This tension is believed to be an ongoing struggle, and will one day be ultimately resolved. In the meantime, the faithful stand firm, opposing those forces that seek to do harm.
In a similar fashion, Christians entered the Season of Lent on Wednesday, commencing the 40-day struggle that Jesus has with the devil in the wilderness. During this particular battle, Jesus is tempted to be nourished by food alone, yield to the authority of the devil, and to put God to the test. In every way, he resists these forces, embracing the light of God in the face of darkness.
These religious observances, and others of the like, are meant to build spiritual muscle. It may be the case that followers are, in fact, in a coinciding period of gloom and strife. If so, they are able to find solace, standing in solidarity with fellow pilgrims. But, even if their own circumstances don’t currently line up with the religious narrative, walking these wilderness journeys serve as preparation for when darkness begins to loom.
As our Upper Division Sacred Texts Club gathered this week, we examined the temptation of Christ from Luke’s Gospel. After sitting with the text and giving it room to breathe, one of our students, Alex Blau, made a keen observation. He wondered if the temptation was less about food, authority, and doubt, but instead more oriented on what happens during seasons when it feels as if God is nowhere to be found. For, parallel accounts of this encounter make it clear that the angels came to attend to Jesus after the wilderness period (leaving one to wonder where God’s presence was during those 40 days).
I found his insight to be transformative. Because, even though I believe God to be fully present in the world at all times and in all places, my body, my mind, and my heart are not always in tune. There are, most assuredly, times and seasons when God seems to be missing in action. This mystery is not just felt on a personal level, but can also be observed in a broader sense. In other words, darkness and evil forces can take the shape of a cloud above my own head, but may surely lurk over the collective heads of a community or a nation.
Yes, the perceived absence of God can be the most powerful of all temptations; the darkest of all nights. In these moments, the spiritual muscle gained from facing evil head-on, with regularity, can prove to be the balm of salvation.
It is in this spirit that my prayers go out to our Hindu and Christian friends, along with anyone who is facing a season of strife or grief. May the presence of God break through the wilderness, embracing all in need.
Berkeley Preparatory School
Founded in 1960, Berkeley is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory day school located in Tampa, FL, for boys and girls in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12. Approximately 1,400 students gather here from the greater Tampa Bay area to form ONE Berkeley.