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What was God thinking?!
Initially, what caught my attention in Mark's version of Christ's temptation, was that
the Spirit (Vs 12) sent Jesus out into the desert... that place of danger, suffering and temptation. What was the Spirit thinking? Do we send those we love into such experiences, on purpose? How did Jesus cope and what was He feeling as He faced some dangerous desert creatures, the suffering of thirst and hunger and then, the temptations too? What did He need to experience first-hand that couldn't have waited, until His public ministry began? I must admit, I was a little annoyed with God, that is, until I read the next verse of St. Mark’s Gospel...
Not "after", but "while"... (Vs 13)
In this very next verse, Mark says something full of hope... “the angels ministered to Him” ... not after 40 days, not after He successfully resisted all temptations, but while He faced all the dangers, in the midst of all His struggles.
The angels ministered to Christ. Their care wasn't a "reward" for His strength and restraint. Their care was God's "lifeline", given to Him in His weakest moments! Jesus experienced the whole spectrum of what humans face when He walked into that desert. By the end of His days in the wilderness, He knew with certainty the depths of His Father's care and that the Father's words at His baptism in the Jordan were absolutely true! He is God's beloved Son! His identity was confirmed and God's angels accompanied Him as He picked up on the Baptist's message and began to establish the Kingdom of God on earth!
I like to think that God sends angels into my life as well. God's "lifeline" comes in many forms but serves as proof of His faithful love and provident care for me. These angels come in the form of those sent to encourage and heal, inspire and challenge me to recognize God in the midst of the muddle! They come usually, not when I'm at my best, but when I'm at my wit's end! At least it is then that I recognize these angels more readily.
I like to think that I too, at times, am asked to be an 'angel' for others while they struggle. For knowing that I am, like Jesus, "beloved of God", clarifies my identity. With this insight I can help others at their weakest times to meet and face the turmoil of their 'desert experiences'. I can help them, like me, to come out of the wilderness more aware of who I am, “Beloved”, than when the Spirit sent us there in the first place! Then we both can spread the message of God's Kingdom a bit better.
S. Mary Louise Swift, CSFN