Lanterns in the Desert/Lenten Lectio: Worship the Lord your God, and Serve only God

Your word is a lantern to my feet
 and a light to my path.

 Psalm 119:105

Our Lenten journey takes place in our desert, that place in our life where we wander and wonder and struggle with who we are and what we are called to be and to do.  It is a place of "testing."    We remember that after his baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the desert where he spent 40 days wandering, wondering, and struggling.  He used the Word of God as his Light and his "Lantern in the Desert."  As we walk with Jesus in the desert carrying our own lanterns to light the path, we learn that we must keep our eye on God if we are going to stay in the light and on the path.  There are many things in our world that tempt us to worship little gods, putting them before God.   We often pray and when God doesn't answer in our way and in our time, we work to make life happen in our way and in our time.  

Remember Moses and the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years as you consider this week's passage.  Remember when Moses went to meet God on the mountain.  The Israelites got impatient and built a golden calf to worship ... 

For the next couple of weeks we look first at the 3rd temptation of Christ as we engage in Lectio this week and walk the labyrinth next week.

Before we engage in Lectio Divina, or sacred reading, let us focus on God's loving presence by creating and breathing with a Breath Prayer.  Try this one or create one of your own:

Breathing in ... my Lord, my God

Breathing out ... help me worship and serve only you

When you are ready to enter into prayer with the text via Lectio Divina, take one last deep breath and pray for illumination of the text:

Holy Spirit, light the candle in my lantern as I read and pray with the Holy Word.  Increase my trust and help me to let go as I listen to the movements of God in my reading and reflection.  Amen.

Step 1:  Read Matthew 4:8-11 (Contemporary English Version) with the "eyes of your heart."   What word or phrase calls for your attention in your reading?  What word or phrase is this week's "lantern in the desert" for you? 

Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say:

‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.

Step 2:  Read the passage again and Reflect ...
How does your lantern in the desert illuminate your life and reveal the tiny gods you are tempted to worship when God seems to be distant and not a vital part of your life?  Where are the places in your life where are you being invited to more deeply worship and serve only God?

Step 3:  Read the passage again and Respond ...
What do you say to God about the insights you have discerned in your reading and reflection?   How do you pray when you consider how you are being invited to worship and serve God and God's people?

Step 4:  Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "be" with God.  Try for 10 minutes or beyond. When you are ready to move on,  pray:  

Holy Spirit, boldly light a Lantern in the Desert so that I may find my way with you.  Help me to keep my focus on you and on where your light shines upon my life so that I might follow you more closely every day.   Amen.

If art is a pathway to God for you, you may want to gaze upon this image ...and engage in visio divina ...

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:

“Worship the Lord your God, and Serve only God!’”