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Lent begins in the wilderness. Not as punishment, but as preparation. The Spirit leads Jesus there—not the devil, not circumstance, but the Spirit itself. This is a holy journey, not an accidental detour.

In the Orthodox tradition, the wilderness is not a place of abandonment but a place of encounter. It is where the distractions of the world are stripped away, where the noise of our egos is silenced, and where we finally begin to hear the voice of God in the depths of our souls. The desert fathers and mothers sought the wilderness because they knew that within it, they would wrestle with themselves, with their temptations, and ultimately, with the Living God.

Lent as a Journey of the Heart

In our modern lives, the wilderness is not found in the Judean desert but in the quiet spaces we rarely allow ourselves to enter. The Orthodox mystical tradition speaks of the “prayer of the heart”—that deep, interior stillness where we encounter Christ not as an idea, but as a Presence. The Jesus Prayer—“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”—becomes a pathway into that stillness. It is not about shame or self-condemnation but about surrender. It is about stepping into the truth of who we are before God, as Christ did in the wilderness.

This Lent, what would it mean for you to enter the wilderness? Not as a season of mere deprivation—giving up chocolate or social media—but as a time of stripping away illusions, of opening yourself to the refining fire of God’s love.

Temptation and Transformation

The temptations Jesus faces are not just his—they are ours. The temptation to seek security through material comfort. The temptation to seek power through control. The temptation to seek identity through recognition.

Yet Jesus responds with scripture, not as a weapon but as a reminder of truth. His strength does not come from himself but from communion with the Father. The Orthodox tradition reminds us that our salvation is not self-improvement but self-offering—returning, again and again, to the One who alone is our hope.

A Rule of Life for Lent 1

In the monastic tradition, a Rule of Life is not a rigid set of laws but a trellis upon which the soul grows. As we begin Lent, consider:

• Prayer: Where is Christ calling you into deeper silence and stillness?

• Fasting: What attachments are keeping you from freedom in God?

• Almsgiving: How is your life reflecting the love and mercy of Christ?

Lent is not about perfection. It is about returning. As the psalmist says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

An Invitation

This week, take 5 minutes a day in silence. Let the Jesus Prayer be your breath. Step into the wilderness not with fear, but with expectation. God is already there, waiting for you.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us all.