One of my favorite quotations by Oscar Wilde (inevitably recalled every Lent) is the line from "Lady Windermere's Fan" known to all of us I’m sure: "I can resist anything except temptation." Certainly a salient observation of the human condition, with which we all are challenged. There is a cartoon that has two characters talking with the one lamenting: "How come opportunity knocks only once, but temptation beats down the door every day?" And the revered Doctor of the Church St. Augustine of Hippo, observed in "Confessions" (his autobiography, as it were): "Give me chastity and continence, but not just now." Let's face it, temptation is part of everyone's life. The test to overcome temptation toward evil will always be an inescapable part of our earthly journey. Our Scripture lessons this first Sunday of Lent may provide insight into finding our way out of the wilderness.
In the story of the great flood in Genesis we are told of God’s covenant with God’s people and all creation. This important event and promise is certainly a cause for celebration. Celebration may sound a bit odd this first Sunday of Lent, but we are asked to make an offering of ourselves and to celebrate with Eucharist as a way of remembering our covenant with God. So, what is the answer to our desert moments? During our Lenten journey, which itself symbolizes our lifelong journey; how do we prepare ourselves to overcome any inclination toward self-important, self-indulgent, self-centeredness and find our way out of the wilderness?
Temptation will always be part of our human experience, but it is not there to lead us away from God. In fact, just the opposite is true: it is meant to give us a clearer vision of God, because rather than weakening and enfeebling us; temptation's ultimate purpose is to empower and strengthen us. That may appear strange at first, but we must remember that temptation is not a penalty we receive from a mischievous God; it is a privilege and gift we are given by a gracious God to bring us into spiritual maturity and ultimately bring us closer to God.
I saw a bumper sticker a few years ago that read: "Eve was framed." Well, believe it or not, this is the "joyful season of Lent" because Jesus is framed with our fallen nature and yet He remains at the center as our Savior. If we keep focused on the eternal truths we are reminded of during this season then this can be a joyful experience even when we honestly face the pride, envy, and false identity to which we are prone. To be prayerfully honest does not mean being negative, depressed, or dropping out of the journey. Our Lenten journey must be a generous one, extending graciousness and forgiveness as such is extended toward us by a gracious God; a time to put aside all differences and distinctions, whether they be religious, political, or personal.
African American theologian and civil rights leader, Howard Thurman, wrote in his book The Inward Journey, "There is nothing more exhausting for the person than the constant awareness that life is being lived at cross-purpose. At such moments the individual seems to ever to be working against himself. What he longs for is the energy that comes from a concentration of his forces in a single direction, toward a single end." Thurman is correct - our capacity to live and act with a sense of competence grows out of our self-understanding, hopefully a goal for us this Lent and throughout our spiritual lives.
Our Gospel lesson relates Jesus being led into the desert wilderness immediately following his baptism when it was confirmed that His life had a purpose in God's plan. It was there that Jesus reflected upon and clarified the meaning of His life. Mark’s Gospel does not detail the temptations Jesus was subjected to in the wilderness. But from the other Gospels we are told Satan tempted him with turning stone to bread, proving that He was God’s Son by throwing Himself off a high place and not being harmed, and by being offered authority over all the kingdoms of the earth if He would but worship Satan. We fight some of our greatest battles when we are alone. Being alone and in a desert place seems to be an unavoidable experience if we are to seek not to live our lives at cross-purpose. When we are in the wilderness we are forced to focus upon ourselves – our needs, desires, failures, goals, and preferences.
Jesus was tempted to shift His attention away from the question of identity and purpose to basic human needs and desires: food, dependency, loyalty, and power. The temptation is not in being hungry, feeling dependent, wanting power; it is in the manner in which we may choose to be fed, deal with dependence, give our loyalty, and use our capabilities. We need bread to live and survive; but we also hunger for things that bread alone cannot satisfy. These are hungers of the spirit and mind. How we cultivate the spirit of God within us and nurture our mind contributes to the kind of persons we are and become. We cannot live without being dependent upon other people and God. We have to pay attention to where in our lives we defy our dependence upon God. A healthy dependence on God and others can help us fulfill our potential. We are also tempted to give our loyalty to people or situations that promise to give us power in return.
Whatever god we worship is the god who will hold us accountable. God who was revealed through Jesus Christ gives us the capacity to hold onto our own souls and not sell them for the delusion that power can create. Our power is delivered from the moral initiative that has laid claim upon the way we live and our integrity flows from the clarity we have about our commitments and how we understand, use, and value power.
Henri Nouwen in his book, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership interprets the three encounters Jesus had with Satan in the wilderness as the temptations to be relevant, spectacular, and powerful. It is not enough to just say no to the temptations that present themselves in a dramatic fashion; we must also seek to discern the small ways we are distracted and tempted. It is difficult being in the desert wilderness, but it is good to know that we are led there by the Spirit of God that will do us no harm. Jesus sought clarity about His life's mission in the wilderness following His baptism. Soon after His wilderness experience He began to invite and attract people to a new way of life. After all, people are compelled by what is clear and resourceful.
We too can foster faithful living in others through our own wilderness experience. Faithful living is more than just assuming a certain role in society, on the job, or in the Parish; it is the way we understand and attempt to live our lives. Faithful living may take many forms but our genuine love of God guides our petitions and nurtures and develops our vision of life. Then can the temptations of our wilderness experience become the occasions for clarity, creativity, and strength.
Amen.
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