1st Sunday of Lent: The Desert and Hope with the Sisters Adorers.
The desert: The difficult but necessary place
Nobody likes to feel lonely, nor likes to go through moments of difficulty, but the reality is that we all go through “deserts” throughout life. Deserts are those difficult times in which everything becomes hard, empty, or without direction. They are stages of isolation, crisis, uncertainty, or personal struggle, in which we feel exhausted, without motivation or without clear answers.
In the Gospel of this first Sunday of Lent (Luke 4, 1-13), Jesus finds himself in the desert, facing temptations. He is not there by chance nor by choice, but because the Spirit led him there. The Son of God had to live forty days of struggle, hunger, and challenges. This was not a pleasant or comfortable experience, but it is very real: Jesus, in his humanity, was put to the test.
What is the message of this passage? If Jesus himself had to go through the desert, no one is exempt. However, in this sense, it is necessary to highlight something important: as we observe in Jesus’ life, the desert is not the end, but a necessary step for something greater and deeper.
Just as in the real desert there is a scarcity of water and the conditions are extreme, in these periods of life we may feel that we lack strength, support, or clarity to move forward. However, they can also be moments of growth, learning, and transformation, because in the deserts is where we often find our true strength and purpose.
When life leads to the desert
We, Sisters Adorers, through our Social Work, we accompany many women who have gone through their own desert. A desert that they did not choose, but that marked them and continues to mark them deeply.
Such is the case of Carmen (fictitious name). When she arrived at one of our houses, she said: “I don’t know who I am, without fear.” Her life had been full of abuse and deceit; she had learned to survive, but not to live. For a long time, she convinced herself that her story was written and that there was no way out nor alternatives for her.
However, as the days went by, she began to realize something: the desert was not her final destiny; there was a way out. This destiny was neither immediate nor easy, but she could walk it. Her goal was finally possible, thanks to her own effort, the accompaniment received, and the simple fact that someone believed in her when she did not even believe in herself.
Carmen’s story reminds us that, indeed, the desert does not have to be the end, but a place of transformation, of passage. Carmen not only survived, but she found her voice, her strength, and a new life full of possibilities.
How to face our own desert
Jesus shows us how to go through the desert without giving up:
- Not giving in to temptations: quick solutions are not always the true ones; Jesus knew they were not the way. Sometimes we look for shortcuts to avoid suffering, but do they really help us? Let us seek and be creative in looking for alternatives.
- Relying on the Word of God: In each temptation, Jesus responded with Scripture and the experience of his Father. He did not cling to his own strength, but to the truth that sustained him.
- Remembering that the desert has an end: It is not forever. Suffering passes, the trial ends, and on the other side, there is growth, depth, and new life.
How to live this 1st Sunday of Lent?
- If you are going through a desert stage, do not despair. Ask: What can I learn in this time? How is God speaking to me? Who can accompany me?
- If someone around you is going through a difficult moment, offer to be their support. Sometimes, the only thing they need is to know that they are not alone, to feel accompanied.
- Make a faith commitment for this Lent. It does not have to be something big, but something that helps you trust God more in the midst of difficulties.
Remember that the desert is not a punishment; it is a preparation. If you are going through a difficult moment, do not go through it alone, turn to someone close. Also remember that Jesus went through the desert, but on the other side, he found life, hope, and purpose, and you can too.
To continue meditating on this Lenten journey, we invite you to read next Sunday’s reflection.