Ash Wednesday

The only record I know of regarding the years between the birth of Jesus of Nazareth and the beginning of his public ministry is contained in the Synoptic Gospels. Luke calls this period of thirty years the hidden life of Jesus of Nazareth, writing, "When they [Joseph and Mary] had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile, the child grew in maturity, filled with wisdom, and God's favour was with him."

The only glimpse we have of the hidden life of Jesus is when he was twelve years old during an annual visit with his family to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. His parents lost him, and three days later found him in deep conversation with the Temple doctors, saying he was "busy with my Father's affairs."

"Then he went down with [Joseph and Mary], came to Nazareth, and lived under their authority. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and men."

We're told that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness almost two decades later, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins in preparation for the revelation of the Messiah. At this time, Jesus came down from Nazareth and was also baptized in the Jordan by John.

While Jesus was praying after his baptism, the heavens were torn apart, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove. A voice came from heaven, saying, "You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you."

God's Triune essence is "Transcendent-Logos-Spirit." The words spoken just after Jesus was baptized reveal this divine nature of the Trinity as the Transcendent fathers forth the Logos ("my Son, the Beloved"); my favour (Spirit) rests on you.

Immediately after, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted there for forty days and forty nights.

This meditation marks the beginning of our Lenten journey of self-denial.