What did you do after you were baptized? Many of you are probably like me – since I was baptized as an infant (6 weeks old), I have no memory of the day (it was my sister’s 4th birthday), but I surely drank a bottle or two, slept, gurgled at grandparents, and cried a bit. The real business of living a life that reflects God’s claim on me in the waters of baptism grew in me through the years.
Not so with Jesus. Just before last Sunday’s Gospel story, Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan, and immediately the Holy Spirit drove him into the wilderness for 40 days and nights of temptation and fasting. In Lent we consider the temptations he faced, and look at our own lives, our own temptations, and our own choices. We try and find ways to set aside the things that hinder us from living faithful lives (guided by God’s love, generosity and forgiveness) and we try to move closer to God and God’s hopes for our lives.
Let me be clear. Lent is not a time of misery and despair. It is a time when we stop to notice all the ways we can be faithful followers of Jesus – the countless things we can do and say that will reflect our identity as the people of God – people who love when it isn’t easy or convenient – people who include outsiders and strangers – people who live and work for justice – people who forgive when it isn’t deserved because they have been forgiven, too . . . the list goes on and on.
All this, when we do it well, and when we do it poorly, is part of living everyday life as the baptized people of God. –ara
Luke 4:1-13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where 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. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.'”
5Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And 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. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'”
9Then 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, 10for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’
11and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'”
12Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” 13When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Prayer
God of Grace,
In water, you wash us clean and make us your own.
You invite us to live lives of faithfulness, love, forgiveness, compassion and inclusion while, offering us your faithfulness, love, forgiveness, compassion and inclusion.
Sustain us in the face of temptations to live as if we are not yours.
Help us to see how to follow you.
Amen.