THE
P RTAL
April 2019
Page 22
Living in the desert
Fr Michael Halsall
My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation.
(Ecclesiasticus 2:1)
W e read
on the First Sunday of Lent that Jesus was ‘led up’ by the Holy Spirit, to live for an indefinite
time in the desert. It was there that he truly began to realise his vocation as the Son of Man and Son
of God. Deprivation, hostility and temptation were his lot for 40 days and nights. Here the fullness of God’s
kenosis is revealed – not in power, but in humility and struggle.
This inner struggle, to
overcome the struggles
of human frailty, is
hauntingly portrayed
in Ivan Kramskoi’s
famous painting, with
its depiction of a drawn
face, gnarled hands,
staring at a dry cold
rock. It is a sorry sight
as Lent begins, but is
transformed in the
Second Sunday with
the Transfiguration.
life. Unlike the rest
of God’s people, the
priest is called to a
“complete giving of
himself for the service
of the people of God,
as an image of Christ
the Spouse” (Ratio,
39). This kind of
unconditional service
will demand both
maternal as well as
paternal love.
If those who are
A life identified
genuinely called to
with Jesus takes us
priesthood
within
through the helter-
the Church wish
skelter experiences of
to be configured to
his earthly existence, and our offerings are assumed Christ, then they can only do so by walking with him,
into his own. Our failures and doubts, our desire for carrying their own cross daily, and counting it a joy. St
self-determination wrestle with the inner call to reach Thomas More once said to his children, “We cannot go
out and identify with the ‘other’: God in man made to heaven in featherbeds.” This was in 1510, when he
manifest.
was a successful businessman and negotiator. When
life appears to serve us well, we must not forget that
The 2016 Ratio Fundamentalis – the latest Church the temptation for physical and material comfort often
document on priestly formation – uses the language leads us from our true calling.
of ‘Configuration to Christ’ whereby the seminarian
first and then the priest, are to identify in their souls
Reading on in Ecclesiastes chapter 2, we are told to,
and bodies with our Lord; to participate in his one “Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways
priesthood and saving-mission, as co-workers with straight, and hope in him”. If a heart sincerely wishes
the bishops and the whole people of God (para 35).
to serve God, then He can make it possible. We have
only to trust, and step out into the water … and at
He who gives his own life as a sacrifice presents times, live in the desert.
himself as the Good Shepherd, to gather the scattered
Fr Halsall is the Director of Vocations
sheep, and to lead them into the sheepfold of the
Kingdom of God. The Ordinariates have a particular
and Formation for the Ordinariate
role to play in this regard, amongst our Anglican
of Our Lady of Walsingham,
friends and neighbours.
and is a member of the permanent
The life of the shepherd is tough and, at times
lonely. Priesthood does not offer an easy ride through
staff at Allen Hall Seminary.
He may be contacted as follows:
[email protected]