Temptation - First Sunday in Lent

               

                           Sunday, March 10th, 2019    First Sunday in Lent 

After his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by

 the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate

 nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil 

said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." 

Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

 And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has

 been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it

 will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written,

'Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.'"

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,

 saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

'He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,'

and

'On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. Luke 4:1-14

We are daily tempted, by both small and large lures, like fish swimming in the ocean, distractions 

and temptations dangle before us. We are overwhelmed through email, print, social media 

and television with the encouragement to give in to temptation and satisfy our cravings. Those

who sell products and gimmicks know how easily we are swayed. They are experts in manipulation

and enticement. The devil in our modern day is embodied in the notion of having it all and that we

deserve everything. We are consumers and yet still empty.

Jesus was very empty when he encountered temptation. He had been fasting for more than a month,

waiting on God's direction in his life. In his most vulnerable state, the embodiment of temptation

confronts his hunger and his desires. Jesus refuses to give in to the temptation getting what he needs

and deserves. We know all too well what it is like to be hungry and vulnerable. We know how hard

it is to resist those things and people who come to us in our neediest moments. Yet our Gospel tells

us today that Jesus is there with us in those moments, those broken and twisted places we find so

hard. Jesus stands with us today.

Today, I ask God to stand with me in all the times I daily ache to satisfy my hunger, hurt and anger, 

rather than living for others. May we, in this season of Lent, recognize God standing with us in our

darkest hours, and share that love, strength and support with others.

We are weak

Collect

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.