The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him (Mark 1:12-13). These are the opening lines of the Gospel reading for the First Sunday of Advent. So, begins Jesus’ ministry. Over the next three years He journeys around Israel proclaiming: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel Mark 1:15).” It is no accident that these words are used when we receive ashes on Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of our Lenten Journey.

Lent ends with the Easter Vigil. We can say that during these forty days we are journeying with Jesus to Jerusalem to undergo His passion, death and resurrection. We say this because this period is supposed to help us prepare to the greatest of all Christian feasts. Just as Jesus experienced hardships and even rejection on His journey, we can, in some small way, share in that hardship and rejection through our fasting and abstinence.

Let’s examine Jesus’ last journey to Jerusalem as depicted in Luke’s Gospel verse 51 and following. “In Bible times, a journey was a big deal and an ordeal. Overall, Luke’s gospel disproportionately focuses on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem — the journey takes up nine of 24 chapters. The “travel narrative” begins at Luke 9:51 and climaxes in 19:41 with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Abbot, n.d.).”

The New American Bible states that “he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” Some scholars have used the term “set his face like flint” recalling the words of the prophet Isaiah who said The Lord GOD is my help; therefore, I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame (Isaiah 50:70). For both Christ and Isaiah these words attempt to convey the firmness of their conviction to carry out the mission God had given each of them.
With these words “he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)” there is a clear break in Luke’s gospel narrative. This dramatic statement signals a new direction in Luke’s gospel and the direction of Jesus’ final earthly journey (Abbot, n.d.).

We could say that with Ash Wednesday we too have a “clear break” in our normal lives. We begin a period of fast and abstinence. Just a Jesus “set His face” indicating a clear change in attitude and direction. We presented our face, specifically our foreheads to have a change, a visible mark, imposed on us with ashes. Many do this during the normal work day and spend the day showing to the world that something has changed for us today. We may even spend some time answering the question “What is that on your head?” Maybe it is our way of proclaiming “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Entering the Forty Days of Lent, we have begun our own journey with Jesus up to Jerusalem. Our journey may be filled with pitfalls, stumbles, getting off track, and other faux paus. Even Jesus’ journey was not exactly a straight line. For example, He went to visit Martha and Mary in Bethsaida .  He was rejected as he tried to enter Samaritan territory, so he had to go by a new route (Luke 9:52~56).  The route through Samaria to Jerusalem was shorter but, as the people would not receive him, he turned eastward and went through Perea, the “Judea beyond the Jordan (Phillips, 1962)”.

Even the Apostles were not always enthusiastic about the journey. Consider one such side trip on this last journey. Jesus went to the house of Martha and Mary after hearing of the death of Lazarus (John 11). Knowing that that the authorities were wanting to kill Jesus, they tried to dissuade Him (John 11:8). He went forward anyway. It is here Thomas, called Didymus, recognized the futility of arguing with the Master when he “said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go to die with him’ (John 11:16).”

At the outset of our journey we voluntarily impose some hardships or trials. We call these sacrifices. This may include things that we will give up during Lent, and/or extra things we will do during Lent, extra Masses, rosaries, etc. When we encounter obstacles, such as we forget to do something, do we resign ourselves to “shake off the dust” and journey on or do we say just forget about it? We know what Jesus did.

A word for contemporary readers of Luke. Life centered on following Jesus is a journey. On this journey we discover more about what a relationship with Jesus entails, and what life in his kingdom will involve (Abbot).

Where does Jesus want us to journey with him not just 2,000 years ago, but today and tomorrow? Are we ready to be Jesus’ followers, whatever it takes and wherever it leads us (Abbot)? Are we ready to be like Thomas and “go die with Him”, even if all that means is we die to our own selfish interests for a short forty-day period? So, in our imagination, let’s leave 21st-century transportation with planes and cars and put on sturdy, comfortable sandals as we begin this long walk with Jesus (Abbot). Here we go!!!!!
Works Cited
Abbot, M. (n.d.). Lectio:Guided Bible Reading. Retrieved February 17, 2018, from Seattle Pacific University: http://blog.spu.edu/lectio/beginning-the-journey-to-jerusalem/

Phillips, J. (1962). AN OUTLINE OF THE STORY OF JESUS USING MAPS. Retrieved February 17, 2018, from Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL): https://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CN160-TRAVELS.htm