The last verse of today's Gospel seems like a tag-on. But it holds a key truth. We're used to associating strength with muscles, exercise, diets, vitamins and nutrients. That's human strength. And it's fine as far as it goes. But in spiritual life, that isn't very far.
Spiritual muscles are out of our reach. So our efforts shouldn't focus on spiritual muscle-building. Only God can give strength in the spirit.
To do it, God normally takes us to the desert. Somewhere barren, without weights, exercise bikes or vitamins. Where we can't survive without God. Where only his strength can keep us alive.
St. John the Baptist didn't survive the desert because he was already strong enough to take the heat. John was strong enough to take the heat because God took him to the desert... and forged a saint in the burning fire of His love.
My most life-changing lessons have been learned in the desert - where I had to come to grip with my utter dependence on God and the failure of anything or anyone else to which to turn. Did not the Holy Spirit also drive Jesus into the wilderness/desert for tempering.
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