The Wilderness as Preparation

Bishop’s News – Bishop Justin Duckworth

August 2024

I’ve always enjoyed running. Usually, the longer the better and with a bit of a challenge.

These days I still get out for a run when I can, though, I’m not as fast as I used to be.

My last marathon was last year with my mate Jason. That took a fair bit of training. Preparation that was necessary to get us over the finishing line in one piece and accomplish the goal we had set for ourselves. For Jason, it was his first marathon. For me, well I just wanted to support my mate.

Early in Matthew’s gospel, right after Jesus' baptism we read how Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  There, he fasted for 40 days and after that was tempted by the accuser. Now, the bandwidth on that passage is often taken up with the temptation narrative. While there is much to take from that, have you ever considered how Jesus fasted before this time of tempting and before beginning his proclamation of the kingdom?

Might we have read that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and there He was tempted and missed out the bit where he fasts for 40 days?

As we consider our calling as a transformative movement of local faith communities, how are we forming ourselves as people with spiritual disciplines that help us thrive?

How’s our prayer life? Our reading of scripture? Our sabbath taking? Our fasting?

There are many ways to cultivate the spiritual life. The question is how are doing it?

Life is hard. There are many challenges in our parishes, communities and world. It is crucial, then, that we persevere in the disciplines that will sustain and nurture us when it gets tough.   

In a few weeks’, we hold our Kairos Training Day. These opportunities are so important for us for building a movement culture together. We also get to dive into some amazing content that equips us for the journey ahead.

Think of it as one of the disciplines you schedule in your year. One part that forms us and supports us in mission.  

For Jesus, the wilderness was not accidental. It was a choice to prepare for the ministry that lay ahead. Luke’s account says that “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.”

Whatever ministry context you are in. I trust you will find the rhythms to sustain you and Spirit’s presence to empower you.

+Justin