AUDIO MEDITATION:

Ilya Repin (Russian, 1844-1930), Temptation of Christ. Public domain.

FULL TEXT:

Our Gospel tells us that when Jesus was tempted by Satan, “he was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.”

This image from Ilya Repin captures the drama of the confrontation of darkness and light from this scene. A dark, nebulous figure, shrouded in cloud or smoke, reaches towards Christ, who stands alone and illuminated, as though he is observing the sunrise. The air is clear around him, and his posture shows self-possession. Though he is a solitary figure, he does not appear lonely.

How might we orient ourselves towards God’s light today? How can we place ourselves in the hands of God and the angels sent to minister to us?