Your word is a lantern to my feet
and a light to my path.
and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
This week we are considering the 1st temptation of Jesus in the desert as we walk the labyrinth. Do you
have easy access to a Labyrinth that you could walk? If not, you
can take this Link to a finger Labyrinth that you can download and print: PDF File/Labyrinth. If you prefer, here is a link to an online virtual labyrinth. If you didn't experience the text through Lectio Divina last week, you may want to take this link: Lenten Lectio 1 before considering the text as you walk the Labyrinth. If not, you may simply want to read the foundational text and let the words embrace you as you read.
When you are ready, read Matthew 4:1-4 from The Message:
Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
Jesus has been on a 40-day spiritual journey in the desert, just as we are in the midst of our own 40-day Lenten journey. Jesus walks in the desert struggling with the tests he's been given, just as we walk the labyrinth seeking to understand more deeply those things that test us in our lives.
Jesus is not the first one to struggle in his spiritual journey ... and we aren't the last ones. When we read Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, we find people who struggle on every page we turn. The Jewish people recalled their history often for they knew they could learn from those who went before them. They knew their own trust in God was built on the foundation of their ancestors.
More than the other gospel writers, Matthew writes his gospel from a Jewish perspective. It is important for him to show Jesus as a manifestation of Jewish history. Each of the 3 times Jesus is tested in his obedience to God, Jesus responds to the devil, his "tester" with words from the book of Deuteronomy. These quotations from the Jewish Law highlight the story of Moses and the temptations of the Israelite community wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Do you remember how they complained that they were hungry and God sent them manna from heaven? Jesus, the man who is God, is like Israel, the people of God. As Jesus relived the temptations of his ancestors, we live these same temptations in our daily lives.
Each time Jesus is tested he uses the Word of God as his Light and his "Lantern in the Desert." The first test that Jesus encounters is "hunger." Jesus has not eaten in 40 days. I think it is safe to say that he is not only hungry, he is famished! Of course, he is tempted to use his own power to convert stones into bread in order to alleviate his hunger. I would be, wouldn't you? I have a hard time with a 24 hour fast! When I do fast, I find nagging appetites emerging to tempt me, causing me to rationalize and make excuses for why I need to "break" my fast. In the end, when I hold steady and to my fast, I find that I am a little closer to being truly free.
As people living in the 21st century, few of us have experienced physical hunger to the extent Jesus did after 40 days. However, we do have addictions and appetites that we confront. Some of them are destructive and often our lives depend on our finding ways to cope. However, other addictions and appetites are more subtle. There is a saying, "the one who dies with the most toys wins!" WOW!!! I think it was the cultural devil with the red suit and a pitchfork who whispered it into my ear once upon a time.
Take a few moments to think about your life and your appetite for worldly things. What can you "not live without" that you really can? Or ... what toy is on your horizon that you "can't wait for?" Is there anything you have that is good enough but you are eager, ready and willing to for something new and better?
Settle into a place of loving openness within yourself with a simple Breath Prayer. Use this one or allow one to emerge as you breathe in and breathe out for 5-10 minutes.
Breathe in ... Jesus, my light and my lantern
Breath out ... put your Word on my lips
When you are ready, read Matthew 4:1-4 from The Message:
Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
Jesus has been on a 40-day spiritual journey in the desert, just as we are in the midst of our own 40-day Lenten journey. Jesus walks in the desert struggling with the tests he's been given, just as we walk the labyrinth seeking to understand more deeply those things that test us in our lives.
Jesus is not the first one to struggle in his spiritual journey ... and we aren't the last ones. When we read Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, we find people who struggle on every page we turn. The Jewish people recalled their history often for they knew they could learn from those who went before them. They knew their own trust in God was built on the foundation of their ancestors.
More than the other gospel writers, Matthew writes his gospel from a Jewish perspective. It is important for him to show Jesus as a manifestation of Jewish history. Each of the 3 times Jesus is tested in his obedience to God, Jesus responds to the devil, his "tester" with words from the book of Deuteronomy. These quotations from the Jewish Law highlight the story of Moses and the temptations of the Israelite community wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Do you remember how they complained that they were hungry and God sent them manna from heaven? Jesus, the man who is God, is like Israel, the people of God. As Jesus relived the temptations of his ancestors, we live these same temptations in our daily lives.
Each time Jesus is tested he uses the Word of God as his Light and his "Lantern in the Desert." The first test that Jesus encounters is "hunger." Jesus has not eaten in 40 days. I think it is safe to say that he is not only hungry, he is famished! Of course, he is tempted to use his own power to convert stones into bread in order to alleviate his hunger. I would be, wouldn't you? I have a hard time with a 24 hour fast! When I do fast, I find nagging appetites emerging to tempt me, causing me to rationalize and make excuses for why I need to "break" my fast. In the end, when I hold steady and to my fast, I find that I am a little closer to being truly free.
As people living in the 21st century, few of us have experienced physical hunger to the extent Jesus did after 40 days. However, we do have addictions and appetites that we confront. Some of them are destructive and often our lives depend on our finding ways to cope. However, other addictions and appetites are more subtle. There is a saying, "the one who dies with the most toys wins!" WOW!!! I think it was the cultural devil with the red suit and a pitchfork who whispered it into my ear once upon a time.
Take a few moments to think about your life and your appetite for worldly things. What can you "not live without" that you really can? Or ... what toy is on your horizon that you "can't wait for?" Is there anything you have that is good enough but you are eager, ready and willing to for something new and better?
Settle into a place of loving openness within yourself with a simple Breath Prayer. Use this one or allow one to emerge as you breathe in and breathe out for 5-10 minutes.
Breathe in ... Jesus, my light and my lantern
Breath out ... put your Word on my lips
Pray: Holy God, your Word is my light and my lantern! The love I feel from you and the love I feel for you grow as I read the bible and learn more about you. Fill me with the light of your word and let me be your servant. Amen.
Jesus carries Deuteronomy 8:1-3 in his heart as his Lantern in the Desert to battle this battle with his hunger. Allow yourself to be drawn deeply into God’s Presence as you read and pray and listen for the whispers of God through the text:
“Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Is there a word or phrase that captures your attention as you read? It may even be an image that will emerge for you. Perhaps this word or phrase or image shines upon your life and satisfies your deep hunger. Let it illuminate your life as you walk the labyrinth.
When you are on your way, turn your word or phrase or image over in your mind. Let God speak into your heart as you listen. Take time to "Release" anything that emerges that you need to let go of in order to move on in your prayers.
Come to a time of pause … at the center of the Labyrinth or wherever you are. Take time to "Receive" and welcome God's word for you. Consider these questions or others that may arise in your time of pause: Where is God speaking into the appetites and addictions of my life through my word, phrase, or image? How is my life touched by the word of God?
As you walk or move out of the center along the same path you took that brought you to your pause, know that you are gaining strength for your continuing journey of life. How is God inviting me to see myself differently? How is God calling me to trust more deeply? As you walk, take the time to "Respond" to God ... it doesn't have to be in words, it may be in a body prayer or in simple silence or ... however it seems right to you!
As you reach the end of the Labyrinth pathway, it is time to "Rest" in the silence of God's Presence. Allow God to light your lantern in the desert with simplicity and healing grace.
Simply BE with the God who always hears your prayers.
Be aware that you may find a desire to express what you have received. This is a wonderful time to journal. Write about your experience, thoughts, feelings, and insights. Some persons find that God’s voice is clarified through the writing process.
To end your time of Labyrinth Prayer, stand a the edge of the Labyrinth and repeat this week's lectionary Psalm 121 for it is another Lantern in the Desert!
I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
Amen ...
If art is a pathway to God for you, you may want to gaze upon the image below and engage in Visio Divina with it...
Read the Image ... Allow your eyes to seek softly what you are attracted to in the image. Simply receive the gift of seeing. What image within the image is drawing you in ... Allow yourself a few moments simply to sit with this gift.
Receive the Image ... Take a deep breath and gaze with soft eyes and a receptive spirit. After receiving, close your eyes and reflect by allowing your imagination to form that image in your consciousness ... what are you receiving from God through the image? How does this illuminate your life right now?
Respond to God ... Now take a deep breath and gaze with soft eyes and a grateful spirit. How do you sense yourself desiring to respond to God through the image you have received? What would you say to God about what you are hearing, seeing, feeling? Allow yourself to pray with gratitude ...
Rest in God ... Now take a deep breath and rest ... notice how your body feels. Is there something more here? Then go back and repeat your "gazing" prayer. If you feel that you have received all you need in this moment, simply rest in the silence and come to a place of shalom, peace, wholeness ...
To end your time of Visio Divina ... Join Jesus in lifting up his Lantern in the Desert:
It takes more than
bread to stay alive.
It takes a steady stream of words from God’s
mouth.
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| Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Author: T Kean from St. Benedict's Catholic Church |
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