sea of \u200b\u200bsand, heat, lack of water, the danger ... This is the first association that may come to mind in connection with the word desert. It is without doubt one of the last places in the world, in which he would like to find a man. Heavenly gardens, ocean beaches, green forests - it sounds attractive, and such grounds arise overwhelmingly positive connotations. But the desert?
When we look at Scripture card - even a fairly cursory, without a proper workshop educated biblical scholars - we see that the desert in the spiritual life of man plays a significant role. Already in the Book We kind of slave Hagar, who fled his lady in the desert because it has been humiliated by it. It says:
Angelus found Hagar in the desert at the source of the road leading to Shur and asked, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" And she replied: "I ran away from my mistress Sarai." Angelus Then he said to her: "Return to thy mistress, and humbly submit to her authority." The angel of the Lord said: "multiply your offspring so much that you can not count. I said, 'You're pregnant and give birth to a son whom you give the name Ishmael, because I heard you when you were humiliated.
Another book of the Bible - Exodus - tells the story of the Chosen People out of Egypt. The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness and often turn away from God to him later to convert . Journey to Canaan - from the escape from Egypt - was a time of struggle of the Israelites from Yahweh, who gradually grew and formed their line with his eternal plan. God is a patient teacher - all the while consistently and to honor its promises. It definitely was not an easy hike.
prophets also starting to experience the wilderness - just to mention Elijah, or the reclusive John the Baptist, the last prophet before Christ. Jesus himself at the beginning of its activities spent 40 days in the desert, where he was tempted by Satan.
When we look out into the desert through the prism of the Bible, it remains basically the same as what it was before - that is, the place hostile, with unfavorable conditions, exposing the dangers of man and difficulties. But not only that - it becomes the first meeting place with God, a place that requires total confidence in him. Spiritual desert is a time of struggle together, to stand in the truth about himself, fighting with his temptations, desires, needs. Here Yahweh distributes the card - whether we like it or not. He wants to prepare us for something over and across the desert would make our clean and give us light in our lives. Just as it did in the case of Hagar, the Chosen People and the prophets. There is only one small problem - it requires sacrifices to come to terms with some gaps i. .. abandonment of self. It is worth mentioning that this is not the only way for hermits, which took many centuries ago, the desert fathers, early Christian monks. Nor is it reserved solely for religious or celibate. It is a way for every believer, if his faith seriously.
approaching Lent. A little bit longer sloganowo we say that this is a time of penance and prayer. Time of sacrifice. Time Desert ...
Are you ready to go out for their desert? God waits.
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