Lent - journey of preparation

Soon after we moved to Mobile from up north years ago, I was asked some questions that took me by surprise. We spent over 20 years in the Coast Guard and lived all over the country, so meeting new people wasn’t something new. But down here, people are a lot more up front. It’s not long before someone hits you with the “Big Three” questions: Where do you go to church? Where do you work? And then, Alabama, Auburn, or LSU?

I wasn’t much of a college football fan back then, but over time I’ve come to love the game. The great teams down here in the SEC have a few things in common. But the best teams, year after year, always have one thing that sets them apart, and that’s an outstanding player development program. The top coaches recruit 5-star players from across the country — the best high school prospects out there. These kids arrive full of confidence, pumped up and ready to do great things on the college gridiron. But no matter their natural talent and knowledge, they’re not yet ready. They need a time of preparation, toughening, and strengthening. A top recruit, guided by his coaches and trainers, in his first year gets even faster, and adds maybe 15 or 30 pounds of pure muscle. So when he finally gets in the big game, he’s truly ready for whatever comes his way.

But there’s one other key. The players have to be willing to put in the work. Those top-notch programs only work if those stellar athletes stay committed and focused. They’re not alone in the journey — they’ve got lots of support. But if they don’t put in the work, they’ll never be ready for the hard game ahead. No matter how good they are, it all starts with that dedication and preparation.

We find that need for preparation throughout the Bible, even for those people most gifted or chosen. Take Moses, chosen by God to lead the nation of Israel out of captivity, and the Jewish people themselves. God’s Chosen People — chosen, but not yet ready. And they spent 40 years wandering in the desert before God led them into the Promised Land.

And today we have Noah & his family. Eight people chosen as most worthy from ALL the people of the earth — but even theyare not quite ready. They need preparation. Obeying God’s word, Noah builds an ark in the face of ridicule, contempt, and derision, // and then faces 40 days of isolation and uncertainty, waiting to see dry land — all to test and help strengthen his faith. And only THEN is he ready to enter into a new covenant from God.

And then we have Jesus, the Son of God, God Incarnate Himself. At Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan, we heard in Matthew’s Gospel: ”This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And yet, even the Son of God wasn’t quite ready. He needed additional preparation for what he was called to do. Mark’s Gospel today tells us that the Holy Spirit DROVE Jesus into the desert to be tempted, to be tested, to be strengthened. It didn’t lead him or take him into the desert. It DROVE him there, because he needed those trials to get ready. Unlike Matthew, Mark’s focus isn’t on Christ overcoming Satan or the temptations themselves, but that Jesus came out swinging, ready for his ministry and the road that led to Jerusalem, His Passion, death, and Resurrection — and ultimately, our salvation.

That’s what St. Peter’s talking about in our second reading today. Christ’s death and resurrection opened the way to salvation for each one of us. Peter ties it back to Noah and the ark, and how he - Noah - was chosen to come through the waters of the flood to bring about God’s plan for the world. We too have been chosen by God — ransomed and called through Christ — to bring His salvation to the world. Through the waters of OUR baptism, we’ve been chosen and recruited into a new relationship with our Creator. But we’re not ready either. The waters of Baptism are only the start. Like a good coach, God sees in us not just who we are now, but who we can become with the right guidance and preparation.

Just as Christ was driven out into the desert by the Holy Spirit to prepare for His saving ministry, we are being called to do our part. That’s what our Lenten journey’s all about. No matter where we are in our faith lives, we can be BETTER. Lent is about building up the strength of our faith. It’s about testing our resolve and commitment. Like a star athlete, simply showing up isn’t enough. If we’re not willing to put in the time and the effort, we’ll never become the Christian we’re called to be.

“Repent, and believe in the gospel.” We are called, and profess, to believe in the good news of our salvation. But if it’s something we genuinely believe in, we must continually re-commit ourselves to making it real. It’s not just a message - it has to become a way of life, a movement, to bring the truth and promise of Christ to fruition in our world today. That’s the call of OUR Lenten journey.

Christ returned from the desert strengthened, ready for his ministry and the fight against the darkness of the world. May our Lent similarly prepare us for the ongoing battle ahead.