Temptation

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for 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

We all know what temptation is like as it is a familiar and human challenge. Whether it is the overindulgence of food and drink or the desire to rule other people, temptation is always with us. Jesus, the Son of God incarnate faced of with the devil incarnate. We may not ever understand that exchange, but we can understand the desires, the deep temptations we struggle with daily. From abusing power to giving up entirely. Jesus did neither. He resisted the tempter's game and went on to bring real love into the world. We can bring a portion of the incarnate love to the world, as we set aside our desires, and serve needs around us. May we be the better angels in a world of temptation.

Gracious Creator, we live in your daily splendor

with sun, moon and rain to refresh the earth

you remind us that you have provided in abundance.

We want more every day and are endlessly greedy 

taking more than we need so that others suffer

and shutting out the possibility of our better angels.

Humble us, dear Lord, so we might leave to temptations

and spend our time caring for a world caught grief

making us serve the least among us who need the most. Amen.