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(First Sunday of Lent – Deut 26/ 4–10; Rom 10/8-13; Lk 4/1-13)
Jesus does undergo a test in the desert. There, in the wilderness the word of God is tested of its accuracy and power. But as Jesus said, wisdom is proved by her actions. In him there is a wise reading and prudent use of the Word of God. He knows that the Word comes through His mouth are really from His heart and only one who knows the heart can know what the meaning of the Word is. Acting foolishly, guided by the misinterpretation of the word cannot bring power of the Word. Word has no magical power, that mere utterance can bring liberation to the human life. The Word and the author of the Word has to enter into our hearts. The prophet calls for it: “Rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil.” (Joel 2/13).
To find such a God we need to go into the core of the Word of God. As the Aramaean wanderer we may be refugee in the strangeness of the Word. In the ignorance of the Word we may find misery. But to those hearts that longs to listen to his word He provides “a flaming pillar of fire as a guide for people’s unknown journey, and a harmless sun for their glorious wandering.” (Wisdom 18/3)
We are led to the Promised Land where milk and honey flow, where there is green pastures. Unless we rent our own hearts we dig out aimlessly on the peripheral. As we go to the heart we are filled with gratitude and begins to bring fruits of the soil. We bow down before him rejoicing in the first fruits, with hearts filled with gratitude. There the Word of the Lord is not used for selfish needs, heroic glory or assimilation of power. God’s Word is all powerful. Trying to manipulate and take a monopoly of the Word of God will not reveal God at all. It only brings promises from devil.
Jesus does undergo a test in the desert. There, in the wilderness the word of God is tested of its accuracy and power. But as Jesus said, wisdom is proved by her actions. In him there is a wise reading and prudent use of the Word of God. He knows that the Word comes through His mouth are really from His heart and only one who knows the heart can know what the meaning of the Word is. Acting foolishly, guided by the misinterpretation of the word cannot bring power of the Word. Word has no magical power, that mere utterance can bring liberation to the human life. The Word and the author of the Word has to enter into our hearts. The prophet calls for it: “Rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil.” (Joel 2/13).
To find such a God we need to go into the core of the Word of God. As the Aramaean wanderer we may be refugee in the strangeness of the Word. In the ignorance of the Word we may find misery. But to those hearts that longs to listen to his word He provides “a flaming pillar of fire as a guide for people’s unknown journey, and a harmless sun for their glorious wandering.” (Wisdom 18/3)
We are led to the Promised Land where milk and honey flow, where there is green pastures. Unless we rent our own hearts we dig out aimlessly on the peripheral. As we go to the heart we are filled with gratitude and begins to bring fruits of the soil. We bow down before him rejoicing in the first fruits, with hearts filled with gratitude. There the Word of the Lord is not used for selfish needs, heroic glory or assimilation of power. God’s Word is all powerful. Trying to manipulate and take a monopoly of the Word of God will not reveal God at all. It only brings promises from devil.
