Jesus Face Down in the Dust

Getting to the core of what lent is really about, some more thoughts.

There's another reason we strip away, pare back and refine leading up to Easter, something about the humble in spirit inheriting the earth. 

When Jesus was in the desert for forty days and nights, there were temptations coming at him from all angles that would appeal to the striving, insecure soul - command respect in this, prove your authority that way, gain approval and status on earth. He chose not to agree with those things and instead took the low place. He shuffled around in the wilderness with his face in the dust, putting aside food, riches and temptations of power. He chose not to wield power. He was truly sold out for another way.

So we echo this attitude in whatever we choose to give up/pick up for lent, because we agree with making a point about breaking through bad hang ups on status, power, consumerism and self-interest. How many of the choices we make purely in our own interest mean someone else has to suffer or slog for them to be realised?

Jesus in wilderness resisted the temptation to put his needs and desires first. He chose humility and faith so a love-filled life had space to breeze through for everyone else he ever met. Taking that perspective too, the things we thought mattered pail away, and instead a blade of grass seems to be as beautiful a thing as we will ever want or need in order to be delighted, to inherit the whole earth.


{Today's Soundtrack: Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys}