Reflecting on my first overseas trip, I am reminded of this Gospel reading where Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness and tempted by the devil. This resonates deeply with my own experience as a young teacher, full of the Holy Spirit and joy, embarking on an adventure to explore the world.
My journey took an unexpected turn when I fell ill shortly after arriving in a foreign country. The excitement of my first experience abroad quickly turned into fear and uncertainty. I found myself in a hospital, unable to understand the language, and overwhelmed by the need to hand over my passport and visa. The fear of the unknown gripped me as I sat alone in my hospital room, clutching the rosary beads I had brought with me.
Jesus responds to the devil’s temptation by saying, “Man shall not live on bread alone.” (Luke 4:4), at my lowest point, I was unable to eat and fearful of my fate. The food and treatments were unfamiliar, and I had to place my trust in the medical system. More importantly, I turned to my faith and trusted in God to help me through what felt like a desolate and lonely desert.
The hospital felt like a wilderness to me and each day brought new uncertainties. My two-week hospital stay felt like forty days, mirroring Jesus’ time in the wilderness. I was constantly worried about what would come next as the doctors searched for answers to my condition. It felt like a lifetime of waiting and uncertainty.
During this time, I found solace in prayer. As written in Luke 4:8, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” My faith was challenged, but it was also strengthened. I prayed for answers and for the strength to endure this trial. The desert is like a metaphor for my own feelings of loneliness and isolation.
In the end, my faith carried me through. I realised that, like Jesus, I was not alone in my wilderness. God was with me, guiding me and giving me the strength to overcome my fears. This experience taught me the importance of trusting in God, even in the most challenging and uncertain times. It reminded me that, no matter how desolate the desert may seem, we are never truly alone.
by Fiona Brown
