Today's Scripture Readings
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 (NRSV)
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, `You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Psalm 32 (BCP., p.624)
Romans 5:12-19 (NRSV)
As sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned-- sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
After Jesus was baptized, he was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him,
"If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written,
'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Blog Reflection
The number forty in the Bible has great significance. The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years before entering the Promised Land. Elijah spent forty days on the Mountain. Nineveh spent forty days in a fast to repent and return to the Lord.
The First Sunday in Lent each year takes us to a Gospel narrative of Jesus' temptation in the desert for forty days. Continuing with the idea written by Thomas Keating in The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience beginning on page 39-42, what Jesus is doing in the temptation is facing the emotional systems of all of us. The emotional systems are survival/security, affection/esteem and power/control. Each of us has these built into our human system. By themselves, they are not evil or wrong. How and where they are directed can determine the moral impact of what our emotional systems lead us to. If they lead us to use them for the sake of themselves, there is a problem. If we use them out of love for God, neighbor and self, we are growing in holiness and relationship with God.
In Jesus, is God's prefect revelation of God's Self. Jesus is the human face of God made real. God did not wait for us to reach God's level. God came to us as one like us. In Christ, we are shown how God walks with us as we face the temptations of our emotional systems. In all of the examples that Matthew's Gospel gives us of how Jesus was tempted, and responded to Satan there is one common theme that the devil is trying to get Jesus to do. In the end, the issue is not how hungry Jesus is. Nor is it whether Jesus is the Son of God, or how much of the world He could rule. The common thread in all that Jesus is tempted to do, is will Jesus be His own god, or will He rely on God for His salvation? Yes, Jesus is hungry after forty days. But, if Jesus does change the stones into bread, what He would do is decide that He and not God is the one who ultimately fills his hungering heart. If Jesus were to jump off the pinnacle of the Temple, He would indeed be protected. But, He would have made Himself God, deciding what God should and should not do for Him. Jesus could have bowed down and worship Satan in exchange for all the kingdoms of the earth. But, He would have made himself God, and not worship the Lord, His God.
In the temptations and His response to them, Jesus shows us His great humility. The very humility written about in Philippians 2:1-11. He does not regard His likeness to God to be the most important thing. Jesus out of His love for us, empties His glory, and shows us the way to God. Jesus does not exalt Himself as God's Son. He serves humankind and therefore receives the glory of God as God's Son because of what He gave.
What are some of the emotional systems that we cling to?
Could the reason be that Christians in not too few number continue the campaign against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people because it challenges our emotional systems of security, esteem and control?
Do we ignore the dangers of climate change because the security, esteem and control of the rich and powerful has too strong of a hold on our government and politics?
Do we resist the real need to change our gun laws so that our schools, neighborhoods and communities are safe, because the Second Amendment worshipers are afraid of losing their security,esteem and control?
Do we remain silent about the real existence of racism and sexism, because we like the security of a Caucasian/male dominated system, by which we are highly esteemed and in control?
Are we willing to speak up about the current violence in Ukraine, and give up a bit of our security, esteem and control over the fact that the United States has too invaded countries and taken them over against their will? Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan and drone missile attacks come to mind.
This Season of Lent is God's gracious gift to us, to be able to confront those parts of ourselves that won't live up to the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and ask the Holy Spirit for a renewed heart and mind. A heart with reverence for God's presence in our neighbor, and love God in her/him without distinction.
In today's Gospel, Jesus faces our emotional systems and shows us how to be victorious by trusting in God to help us. As we look upon our own lives in the presence of God's mercy and forgiveness, we have the opportunity to experience God's healing and reconciling grace. The grace that enables us to not just face and over come our temptations, but also tell the world about Jesus through our lives redeemed and changed for the better.
Amen.
Prayers
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be
tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted
by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of
each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.218).
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.217).
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit
that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for
the honor of your Name. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.101).
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