Desert is a place of Grace!

Every life is a gift of God to prepare us for a life with God. We are born with no knowledge of God; through the help of parents and caretakers we learn about God. The second hand faith is our first step in knowing and learning about the life with God. Our faith matures as we grow in wisdom and knowledge (not necessarily growing old). Different life stages help us on our way to God. Sacraments bring us the grace of God on those important life stages: Baptism at the beginning of life; Confirmation and Holy Communion and Reconciliation at the crucial part of our lives – as teens; Marriage or priesthood as adults and Holy Anointing at the end of our earthly life. They reveal that we are on our way to God.

All the sacraments need patience and preparation. Any sacrament that has taken in haste will be a waste. Jesus needed 40 days (quite some time) to plan and prepare his heart, mind and body for the task ahead – to bring people to God. Noah had to wait for 40 days – a period of inner silence and meditation and a renewed sense of life. When Noah came out of the ark, God makes a covenant with him. After 40 days of fasting and prayer, Moses receives the commandments of God: a covenant in a different form as well. Jesus after 40 days was baptized – a covenant in a different form as well.

In order to experience God first handedly, the preparation is seen in three phases: 1. a road to get out from our old self: from our old habits and ways of living, 2. to stay in a different place – a desert – a place of silence and solitude. Our Pope writes, “It is the absence of the exchanges of life, its noises and its superficiality. It is the place of freedom and a place of grace. In putting aside all preoccupations we encounter our Creator.” 3. The third phase is a road to get in to our renewed self. This phase starts with a powerful encounter with God. We receive the Holy Spirit to start afresh. We cry out ‘Your Kingdom come; Your will be done’ in a renewed commitment.

All the three phases are filled with challenges. We find it impossible to let go of our sinful old ways. We find it impossible to live in a desert where there is neither life nor signs of life. We live in a fast world with fast food culture, 40 days are impossible. Quite a number of people also find it difficult to come back and get into our renewed self: ‘Lord! It is wonderful here’ said Peter. We must never forget that Jesus was led by the Spirit. We take these roads because God called us. Let us pray that God continues to guide us through our preparation to learn and love God. Amen.