In that famous Lenten text, the Gospels describe Jesus’ ascent to the mountain to be tempted:
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
Tolkien once said that “Shortcuts make for long delays.” Shortcuts are usually seen as a way of avoiding areas/places we don’t wish to encounter. Perhaps it is easier to choose the easy route; the road which demands less commitment or less repentance. It’s quite true that when we go on a journey, we need to know where we are going. But instead of a short route through beautiful sceneries, Lent provides a long and winding road filled with unseemly terrain which continues in these next thirty-eight days. But this is all necessary because our destination is Easter. Thus, we may fast on certain occasions, choose to serve others more consistently, to repent with greater vigor; the purpose of these things is not to earn some merit, but to learn just how precious are the merits of Jesus.
The road to the empty grave is a difficult road, but the only true road to glory. We can’t take shortcuts on this journey. We must walk through the desert places and step on serpent’s heads and take naps surrounded by wild animals. On this Lenten Season, we give thanks that our Lord Jesus did not take shortcuts on his journey to Calvary. Lent is a concentrated time to boast on the cross (Gal. 6:14) and to reorient our spiritual direction.
Prayer: O, blessed Lord Jesus, who did fast for 40 days, grant us the vision of our blessed destination as we journey with you in this season and do not cease to give us opportunities to make our calling and election sure through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
