I am taking you back to the Holy Gospel ,which was read last Sunday , the First Sunday in Lent;
THE GOSPEL. S. Matth. 4. 1
THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Jesus was not alone being led into the wilderness. If you think carefully than you come to the conclusiont hat you and I are in a private wilderness. A wilderness full of sin, sorrow, sickness and temptation. Because of recent developments in my life, I am very aware of this concept. As a Priest you also have to deal with those, who heckle your Spiritual Convictions, even colleagues in the Church of God with whom you served ignore you and leave you in the lurch. If we dont have a strong faith in Jesus Christ, that we are not going to last in our private wildernesses. Therefore it is time for you and I to rest a while in this our private wilderness and pray that
God's Holy Angels may minister to us too.
Amen.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia
