February 21
Lent 1
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[a] with you I am well pleased.”
The Temptation of Jesus
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
The gospel according to Mark
Mark 1:9-13
Take a moment to reflect on these words from the Baptismal liturgy:
“We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.”
As you consider your own baptism, in what way were you buried with Christ? Are there any areas of your life today that need to be buried with Christ? Write out a few areas of sin or places of rebellion in your life that need to be put to death.
When Jesus emerged from the water, the Father spoke a blessing, calling him beloved. We are united with Christ in this blessing. Write out three words of blessing God speaks over you. Include your own name and be specific. “Your name, you are _______.”
The Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. In our baptism, we are reborn by the Spirit. Do you desire to be reborn by the Spirit, to be filled with the presence of God? What do you desire of the Lord? Put your desire into words and lift them to God as a prayer.
visio divina
Christ in the Desert by Ivan Kramskoi, circa 1872, oil on canvas, 72”x84” / Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
What are you most drawn to in this image?
How are your emotions stirred by it?
Ask the Lord to increase your holy desires.
Gaze on the entire figure of Jesus in this painting. Blue and red are the traditional colors used for Christ’s robes in Russian Orthodox icons, representing his divinity and his humanity. How would you describe his posture and demeanor?
Allow this image of Jesus to shape your imagination. Envision yourself seated on a rock in the arid desert with him. Have you experienced a desert in your spiritual life when you’ve felt isolated? What temptations do you battle with, large or small? You are not alone. Picture the Lord’s loving presence beside you in your travails.
Many fellow countrymen and artists did not appreciate Russian artist Ivan Kramskoi or his artwork. Only later was his greatness recognized by more than a small minority. One fan, Russian art critic Ivan Goncharov, admired this painting:
[The figure of Jesus] “seems to have diminished a bit from its natural size, contracted, not from starvation, thirst, and bad weather, but from internal, inhuman insight to his thought and will during the struggle of forces of spirit and flesh.”
In our frailty, we can receive a daily dose of strength from the Lord. The world might see our struggle or sorrow as weakness, but like Jesus, our Heavenly Father beholds the majesty of a beloved child created in his image.
Take a moment to ask the Lord to make his power perfect in your weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).
Settling and Noticing (eyes open) – 2 minutes
- Take a few deep breaths. Settle into this present moment. Open your heart to God.
- Explore all of the details, colors, movements, and shapes in the image. Then focus more intently on a single aspect of the larger image.
Savoring and Pondering (eyes closed) – 1 minute
- Staying with the part of the image you are drawn to, close your eyes, and recreate or visualize that aspect of the image in your mind’s eye.
- While your eyes are still closed, notice any images, feelings, thoughts or memories from your life that might arise in association with this image
Conclusion (eyes opened or closed) – 2 minutes
- How does the image and your response to it meet you at this particular moment of your life?
- Have a little conversation with God about whatever has arisen in your heart during this exercise. You might find it helpful to write down what happened as you prayed with this image.
Musical Devotion
Worship
All Who are Thirsty (Brenton Brown)
Classical
Cantata: "Selig ist der Mann," BWV 57 (Bach)
