This sermon is an invitation to enter into contemplation, in four short meditations, each of which will be followed by a brief period of silence.

 

I

 

Our Mother Eve and our Father Adam in the garden:

          Right from the start we can predict

                   that they’ll eat the forbidden fruit.

 

You don’t have to be God, or even a parent,

          to know that if you set a child in a roomful of toys,

                   and say “You may play with anything here

                             except that Playstation in the middle”

                                      ten out of ten children will head,

                                                eventually if not right away,

                                                          for the Playstation …

 

Did God set them up to disobey?

          Ah, but that misses the point.

                   WHY did they disobey?

                             WHY did they eat of the forbidden fruit?

 

It was because of the promise

          that it would make them like God –

                   knowing what God knows, about good and evil.

 

How do we strive to be like God?

          In knowledge?

                   In power?

                             Power to change others,

                                      to make them more like us?

                             Power to lift ourselves up higher than others?

                             Power to control others?  To control our life?

 

And what about that seed of mistrust in God that the devil planted?

          The devil – and make no mistake, friends, it is the devil within –

                   the devil implied that God lied,

                             that Adam and Eve wouldn’t die.

 

If I place myself in that garden, put myself in Eve’s place,

          What would I do?          How do I strive to be like God?

 

… Lord, show us how to grow in your image instead of making ourselves into gods in your place.

 

 

II

 

In the wilderness, with Jesus.

          Forty days and forty nights of fasting

                   makes for tremendous hunger gnawing at the gut.

                             Jesus’ spirit is strong from fasting and prayer,

                                      strong on the Word of the Lord,

                             But the flesh is weak.

          “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves!”

 

Temptation to make our bodies our ultimate concern,

          to make our stomachs into gods,

                   or to make our material needs

                             into the purpose for our entire lives.

 

Temptation, perhaps, to ask God to feed the hungry people of the world

          through supernatural means,

                   so that we don’t have to think about redistributing wealth

                             so that all will be fed …

 

Jesus’ response shows so clearly his confidence

          in himself and in the one he called Abba, Father.

                   It is not by bread alone,

                             material goods alone, that we need to live

                                      but by the Word of God, spiritual food.

 

Jesus fed people physical food when they were physically hungry –

          but he didn’t stop there:

                   he also fulfilled people’s hunger and thirst for righteousness,

                             for spiritual things.

 

He LOVED them, he affirmed them, he trusted them, he taught them.

          His mission had more to do with the world’s spiritual hunger

                   than with physical hunger.

 

Do I sometimes feed myself physical food,

          give myself material things,

                   because I’m afraid of my hunger for spiritual things?

 

So many people eat and drink and take drugs,

          even overdose on sex, or become “workaholics”

                   in an attempt to fill the emptiness inside –

                             but the emptiness refuses to be filled,

                                      because it’s not a physical emptiness at all,

                                                but a void where we need God to be.

 

… Lord, fill us with your Spirit, so that we can stop trying to fill the emptiness with things that only make us more hungry.

 

 

III

 

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down!”

          “Prove that God is watching over you!”

                   “Put God to the test!”

 

How many times do we say,

          “If you’re so smart, then prove it!”

 

How many times do we give in to that temptation …

          and how much does that have to do with our need to prove it to ourselves,

                   because we can’t even admit inside that we doubt?

 

Testing God.

          Scripture says not to do it, but we do.

                   “If you really want me to do this, Lord,

                             you’ll give me a sign …”

                                      (and I know just what sign I’d like you to give …)

                   “How great is your grace, O God?

                             Will it cover this latest sin I’m contemplating?”

                   “God, if you’re really there,

                             you’ll do just this one little thing for me!”

                   “How do I know you’re paying attention, Lord,

                             unless I feel your presence, your love?”

                   “Make me believe in you, O God!”

 

How do I test God?

          Do I try to make God “jump through hoops” of my devising

                   so that I won’t withhold my trust?

 

… Gracious God, remind us that we are the ones who are tested, not you.  You have proved your steadfastness; it is we who need to learn trust.

 

 

IV

 

“I will give you all these [kingdoms of the world and their splendor]

          if you fall at my feet and do me homage.”

 

Worship the devil and all the riches and power of the world will be yours!

          Sell your soul for wealth and political power …

 

How much less are we willing to settle for,

          than all the riches and power of the world –

                   and yet the cost is the same – our souls!

 

We worship at some very strange altars:

          the altars of money, possessions, self, pleasure,

                   avoidance of pain and conflict, prestige.

 

Even self-sacrifice, hard work, reason and order, physical fitness,

          pleasing others can become objects of our worship.

                   How many have started out wanting to serve humankind

                             and ended by selling their souls for power and wealth?

 

Theologian Paul Tillich said that God is “what concerns us ultimately.”

          Whatever concerns us ultimately is our god.

 

What is it that takes most of my concern, my time, my energy?

          Have I allowed something or someone else

                   to take God’s place in my life?

 

Are my children my god?  Or my spouse?

          My boss, or the people who work for me?  My job?

 

What would it look like if the Lord were really my ultimate concern –

          every day, not just Sunday?

 

…

Lord, bless us in our strivings to answer your call to repentance and renewal.  Stay with us on this journey through Lent, and keep calling us back.  We commit ourselves to the way of Jesus Christ, listening for your word in prayer, studying your word in Scripture, and watching for opportunities in our daily lives to show Jesus’ love for all your children.  In his name; Amen.