In the desert

THE STORY is told about a 65-year-old man who was bragging about how he overcame his many vices through sheer will power. When he turned 62, he gave up cigarettes. How? Will power. At 63, he gave up alcohol. How? Will power. At 64, he gave up gambling. How? Again, will power. When asked if he has given up his womanizing, his answer was also positive. How? Was it will power? His answer was: "No, not will power, but power failure."

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The Gospel today (Mk. 1, 12-15) relates that Jesus was tempted in the desert for 40 days. "He was among wild beasts."

We all have temptations. We all have weaknesses. What are the "beasts" in your life? What are your struggles and battles with the forces of evil? While it is heroic to face and overcome the beasts in your life, the better way is just to flee from them. When it comes to temptations, it is better to be a coward and flee, rather than try to be a hero and fall.

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While Jesus was in the desert among wild beasts, angels were also there to minister to Him.

How assuring to know that God will not leave us unaided as we journey through the valleys and deserts of life. The problem with many of us is that we refuse His help and guidance especially when we need Him most. When tempted, we can always turn to the Lord in prayer, but, often, it happens that instead of turning to Him, we shut Him off, precisely at the time we need Him most. The rule of thumb when tempted: Pray and flee!

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Thank God, there are persons, angels in disguise, who shield us and aid us in our weaknesses. These are the people who remind and warn us of the dangers up ahead. Blessed are we if we have such people in our lives. They tell us the truth about ourselves, and the truth hurts. That's why often they are not popular.

On the other hand, there are people who lead us to sin. They are good company, but they are just that.

What sort of company do you keep? Who are your so-called friends? Those who help you to be good, keep them. Those who help you to be bad, junk them.

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Have you heard the story about a 90-year-old Korean who married a 16-year-old girl? They had a baby each year, and he bragged that his engine was turbo diesel and inter-cooler pa. When the fifth child was born, the nurse told him, "Better check your engine oil because the baby born is black."

Lesson: Pride often comes before the fall. It is better not to be too self-confident when it comes to temptations.

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Are you going through a desert experience right now? God allows and even leads us to the desert so that we can really listen to Him. When life is easy, we often lose sight of God. But when life becomes dry and barren, we really thirst for His presence and His love. One thing is sure: God will not desert us in the desert.

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There is a storm brewing now in the deserts of Iraq. Let us continue to pray that the desert storm will pass. Let us continue to pray and work for peace. Let us pray that the beasts of war will be banished forever. May the lures of power, revenge and pride be removed from the hearts of those who will make very important decisions in the next few days.

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May the 40 days of Lent be a real desert experience for all of us. As we discipline our bodies through prayers and fasting, may we all come closer to God, and come out of the desert more loving, more joyful and more generous.

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To those who have gone through and have come out of the desert victorious: Please don't be complacent or proud. The enemy never sleeps. So, be watchful, be vigilant. Remember, too, that you have the responsibility to encourage others who may be going through the same temptations and suffering the same weaknesses. Yes, may we have more wounded healers, and grateful "desert-ers"!

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Got this beautiful text message last Ash Wednesday: "Fast on anger, feast on patience; fast on anxiety, feast on hope; fast on bitterness, feast on forgiveness."

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Join us in a Marian pilgrimage to Akita, Japan, and Naju, Korea. We leave on April 23 and come home May 2. We will have encounters with Sister Agnes, the Japanese visionary, and Julia Kim, the Korean visionary and victim soul. The message of the Blessed Mother in these two places is the same: prayer, penance and conversion. Common also to both places is the statue of the Blessed Mother shedding tears. Both visionaries are powerful instruments of healing. For more details, call 5238581 to 88 or 7217457.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, thank you for the assurance that you will not desert me especially in the desert. Amen.