This is the time of fulfillment
The public activity of Jesus begins in the desert. The Holy Spirit led him to the desert. Earlier, the same Spirit empowered Jesus to undertake the messianic mission in Jordan.
Jesus stayed in the desert for forty days. Thus he "continued" the traditions of the forty number in salvation history: forty days were the flood cleansing mankind from sin; Forty years Israel wandered through the desert to the Promised Land; Forty days Elijah went on bread and water to meet God on Mount Horeb. The number forty is symbolic. Among other things, it means the time of maturation and cleansing; a time of conversion, penance and return.
At the beginning of Lent, the Church also invites us to the desert: Therefore, I will allure her now; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak persuasively to her (Hos 2:16). The forty-day period of fasting is a kind of retreat that resembles Israel's wandering through the desert. God wanted this time for the Chosen People to be a time of purification, deepening their bonds, realizing their special choice, deeper love. Meanwhile, time has turned out to the time to go away, infidelity, murmuring, doubts, unbelief and tempting God.
It is similar in our journey through the desert of life. We do not always want to follow the path that God leads us, we choose our own way of life and happiness. We lack courage, endurance, and patience; lack of sincerity, trust and faith. We often go through the desert of life alone, multiplying "crosses" and bending under them.
In the time of grace and salvation which we are beginning, God wants to remind us that the journey through the desert of life is never lonely. God is always present on it, accompanies it, guides it, shows the direction, admonishes it, or supports it. He is present as He was with Noah, Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Even when we forget about Him, we turn our backs and go our own way.
The desert is a place of solitude and temptation. In Bible times it was widely believed that demons had a special preference for baths, cemeteries, and the desert. Jesus, tempted in the desert, had to fight the enemy in "his territory". The desert makes people realize that temptation is inherent in human life. Even God's Son was not free from it. Temptation is not a sin. Unhealthy, "sick" guilt makes us feel either guilty or responsible for it. To overcome temptation, you need to shape inner freedom and understand that it is "external" to the human will. And although it torments with persistence and strength, it is never our fault.
Jesus was victorious through the power of God and the words of Scripture (as mentioned by the other Synoptics). He did not argue with Satan, but resisted his temptations firmly, calmly, and with dignity. He was confident, strong, brave, had inner peace because he trusted the Father completely. He knew he had the power of the Father and the Holy Spirit behind him. Throughout his life, he did not struggle with Satan alone, but in union with the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Evangelist Mark emphasizes that Jesus was in the desert among wild animals. In the Bible, some animals (e.g., dragon, snake) are symbols of evil. So Jesus was surrounded by evil, but he was victorious over it. Like Daniel in the den of the lions, angels served him. Jesus is the opposite of Adam, who was tempted in Paradise by Satan, lost and succumbed to temptation. Jesus, the New Adam, defeats the enemy. After the loss, Adam was forbidden to enter Paradise. In the desert, Jesus is served by angels. The desert, the place of Satan, evil, and temptation becomes the New Paradise, the place of God's presence. What place is "my paradise" where I experience God's presence and love?
One more thought
"This is the time of fulfillment- these are the first words of the Lord Jesus recorded in the Gospel of St. Mark - The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." Today let us try to comment on just these words: "Time is fulfilled."
In our daily life, there comes a proper moment for various matters as well. Fulfillment of time may also applied to negative situations. For example, something bad is happening in my body until you feel it is time to see a doctor. Or someone is not paying attention to their duties until finally the measuring cup is full and bringsus to order. We have warnings in the Scriptures that the measure of our wickedness may be full.(cf. Mt 23:32)
Well, these words of the Lord Jesus: "The time is fulfilled, convert" contain at least three meanings. The first meaning of these words is emphasized by the Apostle in the Letter to the Galatians: " But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law." (Gal 4:4) If it were not for the Lord Jesus, no sinner - and we are all sinners - would be able to come closer to God.
However, in relation to us who already know the Good News, these words of the Lord Jesus "Time is fulfilled" can have both negative and positive meanings. It may be that your conscience has been telling you for a long time that you need to do something with your life because there is too much evil going on in it. Perhaps you are even beginning to fear that God's patience with you and your wrongdoing is about to end. Then these words, "Time is fulfilled" mean: it is high time to make some radical decisions and seek the Divine Physician.
For those who try to live God's way, the words " This is the time of fulfillment" will not be so much a call to a radical change in life, but rather a call for the good that happens in our lives to be finally fulfilled. Maybe you have been carrying yourself with one good intention or another for a long time. Maybe right now you should start implementing this intention.
Either way, these words of the Lord Jesus, "The time is fulfilled" apply to each of us. Although it is different for each of us, according to my or your current life situation.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george