I find it fitting that our Gospel reading for the last Friday of Lent has Jesus going back across the Jordan to the place where He was baptized by John the Baptist. It was immediately following His baptism that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to fast for forty days and face temptation.
Among other things, our Lenten journey is meant to be a period of solidarity with Jesus in the desert as we face our own temptations.
And so, as we approach the end of our forty days in our spiritual desert, Jesus returns to the place where it all started, the Jordan River.
This is significant. Every time this spot on the Jordan River is mentioned in Scripture, it seems God is setting the stage for the next phase of Salvation History.
This is the spot on the Jordan River where Joshua led the Israelites across the river before entering into the Promised Land after wandering in the desert and facing temptations for forty years.
This is the spot on the Jordan River where Elijah was assumed into heaven in a chariot of fire before Elisha became part of God’s plan to preserve elements of the old covenant in a divided Davidic Kingdom of God.
This is the spot on the Jordan River where, as we said, Jesus was baptized before entering into public ministry and facing His temptations in the desert for forty days.
This is the spot on the Jordan River where, again, Jesus returns to before He goes on to Jerusalem to first be heralded the Son of David and celebrated with palms only to later be condemned to undergo His sorrowful Passion.
All part of God’s plan to establish the new and everlasting covenant and usher in the Messianic Kingdom of God.
Today, sacramentally, we are present to this spot on the Jordan River through the Mass. We are standing at the Jordan River, preparing for the next phase of Salvation History.
Holy Week starts Sunday. Sunday we get to celebrate Jesus as King and His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Holy Thursday, we get to rededicate our Temple, the Holy Eucharist, as we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist by Christ. Good Friday, we get to walk with our Blessed Lord through His Sorrowful Passion. Holy Saturday, we get to experience, in a very profound way, His resurrection and the transformation of His sacrifice into the Blessed Sacrament.
The Liturgical and salvific importance of this may be evident to most of us, but it cannot be overstated. At the same time, I’m willing to bet there is a personal significance to this that many of us are likely to not fully appreciate.
What is the next phase for the plan God has for your life? Perhaps God has been spending this Lent preparing you for something and now it is time to take action to enter into that next phase.
I think that is our invitation today. Spend some time in prayer and mediation at this spot on the Jordan River, asking the Lord what that next phase of your life is. What has He been preparing you for? What is He now calling you into action for?
One thing we can count on from Elisha’s experience at the Jordan River is that the Lord will provide what we need in order to carry out His will. Whatever that next phase of your life may be, it will be fulfilled if we humbly allow the Lord to work through us.
Have faith in that as you sacramentally sit near the Jordan River today. If you feel distress over the next phase of the plan, call upon the Lord, and He will hear your voice.
Thanks be to God!
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