First Sunday in Lent, 2010

Deut 26:4-10

Roman 10:8-13

Lk 4:1-13

 

Forty days in the desert was a time of preparation for Jesus.

Along the way,   he was tempted to turn mountains into bread,

to seek personal power, and to test the love of God.

 

And why not?

Changing rocks into bread and feeding the poor would bring blessings without end.

 

Breaking the chains of Roman rule and establishing a just government would bring benefits beyond measure.

 

Jesus was tempted to do what seemed noble and good—

to feed the hungry

to establish freedom,

to be protected by angels.

 

But Jesus was tempted to do the right thing for the wrong reasons.

He was tempted to suspend trust in God—

to believe in personal power, rather than the power of God;  

To place his own desires above the will of God.

 

We face these same temptations daily:  

To do what seems to be the “right” thing

for the wrong reasons.

To be tempted by power—

especially when that power would serve an ultimate good.

To be tempted by control—

especially if that control could abolish evil.

To be tempted by our own desires

especially if those desires could serve others.  

            To believe that we have the answers,

            that we control the results,

            that our own efforts are ultimately enough.

 

We think we have built such a wonderful, resourceful, powerful country.

We feel so generous, so good about ourselves, when we give to collections for Haiti, or help serve a meal at the Catholic Worker house. 

We want to give our children more than we had, leave them with no financial concerns.

We presume that God will take care of us, because we have been so good.

 

Sometimes, sin doesn’t really seem very sinful, does it?  

After all, God expects us to do our part—

to work beside Him to heal the sick,

feed the hungry and free the oppressed.

 

At the very beginning of his ministry,

Jesus was offered the vision of a different path—

a path that could lead him to power and riches

instead of betrayal and death.

 

But Jesus understood the value of the desert.

 

He looked out across the desolate landscape and he realized an important element of our faith. 
We can save ourselves.  We can not find our way home alone. 

 

And so, throughout this Lenten season we will pray:   
    Save your people, O lord.  Show us the way to come home. 

 

Rev. Ev Hemann

    RevEv@SaintPatrickcf.org