“Strengthened in the Wilderness”
When we come to this Gospel on the First Sunday of Lent, I’m usually drawn to the three temptations. I can identify with them. Maybe some of you can as well.This Lent I’ve enjoyed reading contemplative writer Richard Rohr’s meditations on the temptations from his book, Radical Grace. He says the first one, where the devil dares Jesus to turn stone into bread, is about our temptation to be immediately impressive, effective, and successful. It’s about our desire to make things happen—Right now! It makes us look good! Jesus didn’t buy into it.
The second temptation dares Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple. Rohr says this temptation is to think of ourselves as saved, superior to others, religiously elite somehow. In this one, the devil tempts Jesus by quoting scripture to him. However, the devil is using scripture for his own purposes. He’s “against God, in the name of God.” Rohr says the devil’s really loving himself in the guise of loving God. Jesus won’t buy this either.
And the third temptation is when the devil tries to bully Jesus into bowing down before the power systems of this world. Again, Jesus refuses. He will worship and serve God alone.
These are the things I usually think about and preach about on this first Sunday of Lent. It’s good for us, especially in Lent, to think about the things that tempt us.About how vulnerable we are to all kinds of temptations. About how temptations come to us masquerading as good things. About how cunning, baffling, and powerful temptations are.
But this Lent, as a result of our Lectionary study Tuesday night, I got to thinking about a different aspect of today’s story. About how Jesus, who was no doubt very weak physically from fasting and from being in the wilderness for 40 days, rose to the occasion of sparing with the devil with the most incredible, supple, spiritual strength. Although the devil bullied him, he didn’t bully back. He didn’t cave. He didn’t strike back. He simply, non-anxiously, quoted God’s word to the devil. Although Divine, Jesus was also fully human. So where did he find the inner strength…and not just once or twice but three times… when the devil assaulted him? Jesus was sorely tempted and yet strong…so strong! What is the strength Jesus found from fasting in the wilderness?
Remember the wilderness is a desolate place. It’s a place away from all we are familiar with and know: Away from creature comforts. Away from some of the various “props” we may use in our lives to help us feel worthy and secure in our identities: Our titles, roles, uniforms, houses, cars, church buildings, tools, work, and routines—even our friends & families. In the wilderness ALL THAT’S GONE.
In the wilderness there is SILENCE…deafening silence. It’s a place to confront the voices inside our heads. It’s a place to wrestle with temptation. It’s a place to learn to really listen, and it’s a place to hear God’s voice. In the wilderness there is real physical & spiritual danger because we’re unprotected from the elements, from wild creatures, from the committees that meet in our heads, from the voice of the devil. (‘Not sure about any difference between the last two!)
Then add to that fasting. In Jesus’ case, he took in no food or water over an extended time. That eventually makes the body weak. So while Jesus is so weak, the devil takes advantage and tempts him. But Jesus calmly rebukes the devil. He does it simply…with God’s word. I want a faith like that. I want an inner strength like that. I imagine all of us here would wish for that as well.
So this Lent, I encourage us to go to the wilderness. Go to a place without our “props.” A place that’s silent. A place where we are vulnerable. Perhaps we might consider fasting or at least not eating so much, or doing so much, or talking so much. It is in that wilderness place where God will have a chance to come to us. And be with us. And give us God’s word. So that we too are strong…so strong.
Amen.
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