Thursday, March 10 by Bev Campisi

Read Mark 1:9-13.

AT ONCE.  John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River.  Jesus sees heaven torn open and the Spirit descends.  He receives his Father’s affirmation in a voice from heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.”  And AT ONCE, again!  Out to the desert he is sent by the Spirit – for forty days – to be tempted by Satan and attended by angels. No fanfare.  No relishing in his title.  No time to get used to his new “position” or his “role” in the organization.  No orientation class.  Or was there?

There is a story in Jewish tradition that a father will pray that his son’s first business will fail so that the son can learn humility and struggle to value hard work and persistence through the difficult times.

Perhaps that sudden 40 days in the desert was God the Father’s loving allowance for Jesus his Son to be disoriented and then re-oriented, ready then for his public ministry. Jesus was affirmed and then re-affirmed through the attending of the angels that God provided.

Father, I thank you that you have affirmed us as your sons and daughters. Help us to feel your promised presence with us each day, even in the struggle. When we are led by the Spirit AT ONCE, it can feel wild and scary sometimes.  Thank you for attending us with angels in the form of your other children who we are sharing the journey with.  Amen.