Facing Temptations, Lent 1, March 5, 2017

First Sunday of Lent (Year A)

Sunday, March 5, 2017

And they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God - A sad change! Before they had sinned, if they heard the voice of the Lord God coming towards them, they would have run to meet him, but now God was become a terror to them, and then no marvel they were become a terror to themselves.

– John Wesley

Theme: Facing Temptation

Reflection:  Today’s scripture lessons make me ache, from the Garden of Eden to the Gospel.

In the Garden: A familiar story – possibly more allegory than narrative. I must admit, reading about talking snakes just makes me wince. But if we’re willing to understand the snake as an incarnation of this world’s evil and power to tempt, it’s perfectly clear. We break the rules God gives us. And while the first humans didn’t stop living from eating the apple, death still is very present in this story. The perfect relationship between God and humans died. Trust died and was replaced by fear. Their innocence died.

Adam and Jesus: This is the heart of Paul’s theology – that Adam and Eve caused our sinful natures today by their “fall.” We inherited original sin. I don’t buy it – I’m sinful because I’m human and make bad choices, not because of the bad choice of our original human ancestors. I stumble and you stumble over our God-given free will. “One man’s disobedience” didn’t make us all sinners – we sin because it is our human condition. Thank God for God’s abundant grace, revealed to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

Confession is good for the body AND the soul: One of the seven “penitential psalms,” Psalm 32 (like last week’s Psalm 51) often is attributed to King David, reeling from Nathan’s condemnation of his guilty liaison with Bathsheba and the cover up that led to Uriah’s death. Of course, this incident wasn’t David’s only misstep. Like any of us, David was a sinner as well as a saint. The psalm, a maskil, or wisdom song, conveys this truth – living with guilt and shame is harmful beyond our egos. Our minds and bodies are connected, so when we don’t confess, we hurt – in body, mind and soul.

When I read Psalm 32 in the Living Bible translation this week, it occurred to me that it basically mirrors a 12-step program – “There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration (Psalm 32:3 TLB).” So many of my clients are working to stay clean and sober. But it’s much harder when they try to go solo, alone with the temptation to relapse, and bottle up all the ways they’ve hurt themselves and others. And just like the psalm, AA suggests a guide/sponsor is critical. Inside or outside of 12-step programs, the advice is solid. Don’t let a sin eat at you. Confess. Make it right. Heal. Be open to correction.

Temptation x 3: Jesus had just come back from his holy pilgrimage in the wilderness. By way of explanation, “40” is code for “a long time” in the Bible. 40 days on the ark, 40 years in the wilderness for the Israelites, 40 days Moses stayed on the mountain, 40 days Elijah traveled after one angelic meal … you get the picture. Ever wonder why Lent is 40 days (excluding Sundays)? It’s a wilderness time, a time of preparation. So, starving and exhausted, Jesus stares down three temptations, quoting scripture the whole time. I’m guessing I would have caved in to a bottle of water and a sandwich.

What about these four lessons ties them together? We struggle with an identity issue. The same one humans have had since the beginning of time.

Our identity as a child of God does not make us equal to God. NOT EVEN CLOSE. And every time we try to take over from God, we cause hurt – to ourselves, others and God. But how inexplicable that God says we are God’s much loved children, and we are enough. As soon as the world makes us question any of that statement, temptation threatens to unravel us:

• ·         You believe in that religious mumbo-jumbo?
• ·         Could God love someone as messed up as you?
• ·         You’re not good enough until you have _________. (Fill in your own temptation here – is it a relationship, certain possessions, a thinner body, the right job, another degree?)

We’re tempted by people, by media, by the culture, and certainly by our own doubts. It’s challenging to stay in that blessing of “much-loved child of God, and I am enough.” So when I err, it’s easy to go to that doubting place. How could God care about me? I will never be enough.

Instead, I pick myself up, unload my mess before God, and hear God tell me again: “You are mine, and you are enough.”

Faith App: Whenever you are tempted by something the world says you need, first ask yourself, “What is the lie here? Will it help me to draw closer to God?” 

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days, ELW 319

O Love, How Deep, ELW 322

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds, ELW 620

Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery, ELW 334 (with Lent 1 verse)

When Long Before Time (The Singer and the Song), ELW 861

Touch the Earth Lightly, ELW 739

Loving Spirit, Loving Spirit, ELW 397

This Is My Father’s World, ELW 824

Change My Heart, O God, ELW 801

No Longer Slaves, Bethel Music

Undo, Rush of Fools

Lord, I Need You, Matt Maher

You Are My Hiding Place, Selah

Your Grace is Enough, Chris Tomlin

LESSONS

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

Psalm 32 I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Romans 5:12-19 The free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin.

Matthew 4:1-11 “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Summary of the Lessons: Instead of making us powerful, trying to go it alone, without God, makes us lonely, guilty, vulnerable and miserable. Every time people are tempted to try to be God, it ends tragically. We seek forgiveness when we understand we hurt God, other people and ourselves when we try to take control.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 32

L:  Lay down your sin, throw off your burdens;

C:  Your Creator never meant you to carry that load.

L:  Breathe in life’s freshness, the fragrance of freedom;

C:  Hear God call, “Child, let me take that from you.”

L:  I remember those times I was too stubborn to confess;

C:  Keeping my sin inside left me miserable with despair.

L:  My conscience kept prodding me: “Get rid of this mess!”

C:  Then you forgave me, God, and cleared my guilt away.

L:  When I need to flee from everything that troubles me,

C:  You are my hiding place, a safe haven for me every time.

L:   You don’t mind one bit when I come running back to you;

C:  You wrap me in encouragement, and send me off again.

L:  Come learn from me, God says, and I’ll point the way;

C:  Don’t resist like a mule – gladly follow where I lead.

L:  Trying to take control will make life so much harder;

C:  Joyful are those who trust in God’s steadfast love.

CONFESSION

L:  In today’s lessons, we learn how easy it is to be tempted;

C:  God’s people swallowed the world’s lies from the start!

L:  We hide in fear and turn from forgiveness;

C:  And soon, our connection with our Creator dies.

L:  Our brother Jesus didn’t escape the world’s temptations;

C:  Like us, he faced challenges when he was wanting and weak.

L:  Jesus resisted the call of possessions, promises and power –

C:  But we confess how we wrestle with things we don’t need.

L:  For wanting everything society calls valuable –

C:  Lord, have mercy.

L:  For believing what you’ve given us isn’t enough –

C:  Christ, have mercy.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … we pray today that we will trust you with every part of our lives. We know you want the best for us, but over and over the world tempts us to believe we’re not enough, and we hunger for the latest new thing to make us happy and fulfilled. Help us to see the world’s promises for what they are – deceptions that make us question your provision and love for us. Make us quick to ‘fess up when we mess up, rather than hiding from you.

Here is Good News:  God has given us a world full of good things, with other things we shouldn’t touch. But temptations surround us. They are unavoidable in this world. Even our Lord Jesus experienced temptation – we can’t escape it. And we will succumb to temptation – as Paul says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Don’t hide in deceit, but freely confess and rejoice in God’s abundant grace. You are forgiven and set free.

In the name of…

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Faithful God … we pray today that you will lead us away from temptations, or guide us past them. In our time of trial, remind us that we are your beloved children, and you provide all that we need to live well. Thank you for your love and mercy when we give in to the world’s enticements – we don’t have to hide, because you’re ready to set things right.  Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the abundant grace in this bread, the steadfast love in this cup.  Send us, eyes open, into this world of temptation, knowing that we are part of your family and we need you more than anything this world offers. Equip us to carry your life-giving words of forgiveness to all who need to hear them. Amen. 

SENDING

L:  We need more than bread to keep us healthy:

C:  We feast on God’s words of understanding,

L:  We drink in the joy of worship and praise,

C:  And finish in the richness of God’s amazing grace.

L: Go now, set free by grace, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The two Creation stories in Genesis conclude with God setting a boundary. And with any boundaries people face, we can be tempted to cross them.

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.

Second Reading Romans 5:12-19 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The church at Rome was not founded by Paul. But like some of the churches Paul started, it faced unity issues. But these Christians lacked knowledge of the Gospel. So Paul explains at length what followers of Christ believe.

Therefore, just 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.

Gospel Matthew 4:1-11 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Jesus had just been baptized when the Spirit sent him to the desert for a time of trial and discernment. But his trials continued upon his return, with the devil attempting to defeat his ministry before he started.

Then 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.