Tempted

Jesus 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. Matthew 4:1-11

Tempted

God knows how easy it is
The power of all creation
In hands trembling, angry
Wanting tof destroy abusers.

We have power to change world's
To bring light into dreary dark
To welcome as walls are built
To tear down and refuse hate.

All to often our power hunger
Makes us greedy, cruel and bullies
When the gifts we possess were given
To share, to shine in broken places.

This holy lent calls us to bend
Away from selfish hungry cruelty
Toward the tears at our tables
For every child aching for love.