The Promised Land 

   “It is not enough to leave Egypt; one must also travel to the promised land.”  St. Chrysostom 

   During our journey toward Easter we are, in a sense, journeying to the promised land.  Through His life, death, and resurrection Jesus has shown us the way, but it is up to us to follow Him if we want to reach that land of milk and honey.

   The Israelites took a long difficult journey from Egypt to the promised land.  Not because God was not leading them, but because they refused to follow.  We often refuse to follow God’s lead as well.  We may leave the slavery of sin through baptism and confession, but we still stray from the path to the promised land.

   Lent is the perfect time to review how we are doing on our journey home.  Are we living as God would have us live?  Do we not only seek His will, but follow it?   We need to spend time in solitude with the Lord, to simply be there and say, as Samuel did, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3: 9).

   A favorite prayer at the Parish I attend is simple but expresses what our greatest desire should be; “Jesus, I love you.  Possess me.”  When we are possessed by our Lord then we are truly on the right path from Egypt to the promised land.