Reflection on The Temptations- no not those guys

A Homily for I Lent All Saints’ Church, Southern Shores, NC February 17, 2013 Thomas E. Wilson, Rector

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Romans 10:8b-13 Luke 4:1-13

At last week’s convention the Bishop shared an experience of attending a meeting which began with the following question being asked: “How will what we do now affect the poor?” The question was followed by two minutes of silence and then discussion for three minutes on the question; then, and only then, could the meeting begin. This is how we started off the Vestry retreat yesterday morning. (Or if you are reading this before Sunday- it is how we will begin.)

The usual procedure in church institutions is to first see to meeting the needs of the institution, followed by the “needs” or desires of the parishioners, and then and only then, if we have the time, we ask how we might help the poor. The problem for us is that Jesus started off his ministry, continued his ministry, and ended his ministry asking how what we do here will proclaim Good News to the poor in mind, body and spirit. Jesus didn’t spend too much time maintaining institutions and very little making sure his disciples were “pleased”.

Today’s Gospel lesson from Luke is about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness into which Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit. Actually the Greek word, “ago” which most translators render as “led” can also be translated as “driven”. Right now I am in the place where I like that variant translation for I think that the life of faith forces us into the lonely places where we must undergo all of the temptations that flesh is heir to - for where Jesus goes we are faithfully driven to follow.

So, what are we doing here today and how will what we are doing here now, being tempted by the darker angels of our nature, help the poor? Most of us are relatively well off, or at least present a good front. The temptations are about entering into three kinds of poverty. The first kind of poverty is the lack of material resources, and the temptation is to fill any lack - to be in control and self-sufficient (turn the stones into bread). The second kind of poverty is the lack of influence - power over others - and the temptation is to enforce our own political will (rule the nations of the earth). The third kind of poverty is the poverty of marginalization where the poor aren’t even noticed, and the temptation is to make a big splash and be noticed (throw himself off a high place and not be harmed). All of the temptations are about power and security, whereas poverty is about powerlessness and vulnerability. 

 

The three temptations are presented as a win–lose situation by the father of lies and false choices. The Liar, in each of us, says in the first temptation that we live in a creation of scarcity so we need to grab what feeds our hungers ourselves. Mother Teresa used to tell us that, as a matter of faith, there is enough food to go around for all people. Recent scientific studies tell us that 40% of the food supply in this nation is wasted and discarded. We, the relatively well off, lack the will to share, and we resist the will to change the way we consume. The good news that Jesus gives us - that life is more than individual consumption - could, if we listen and follow Jesus into the lonely places, turn into Good News for the poor - IF we will change business as usual and see ourselves as lovers rather than only consumers. 

 

The Liar, in each of us, suggests that the imposition of our political will over others is the way to peace of mind. I urge each of us to see into past history, and indeed present events, to show the bankruptcy of this lie. Every time we, the relatively well off, seem to win for “our” side, we seem to set up the next fight for control, and we use the poor as pawns, objects to be traded, to “win”. Has it never broken through to us that co-operation with our “opponents”, who we seem to like to call “enemies”, is the only way out of the constant political campaigns and wars we are waging? The good news that Jesus gives us - that peace comes when we serve God first – could, if we listen and follow Jesus into the lonely places, turn into Good News for the poor - IF we will change the business as usual of the “winning at all costs” mentality.

The Liar, in each of us, implies that the image we present is more important than the substance of who we are. Therefore, we waste all this energy prancing and preening as we sell out our souls for the approval of others. Each mask, or costume or image that we layer on our public persona contributes, not to greater invulnerability as we hope, but to alienation from the ultimate meaning of our lives and to the perception of others. Each role we take on keeps us from sharing ourselves intimately with another soul. When we, the relatively well off, look at the poor, we do not see them as full human beings, our brothers and sisters as broken as we are, but as stereotypes on whom we project all of our failings. The poor indeed do have problems, and the problem WE can do something about is us. The good news that Jesus gives us -a full vision of ourselves and our neighbor- could, if we listen and follow Jesus into the lonely places, turn into Good News for the poor - IF we will accept the healing of the blindness of our egos.

There is a fourth poverty, and it is the poverty of spirit as Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who know they need God, for theirs is the Kingdom of the Heavens.” This is the poverty which Jesus embraces, and it is the only poverty worth having. The temptations which Jesus undergoes are not the isolated events of 2000 years ago, endured by a superhuman hero in the desert. The temptations are daily events with which every human struggles: (1) allowing care for neighbor instead of feeding our greed, (2) replacing control with cooperation, (3) risking vulnerable intimacy instead of hiding behind structured alienation and (4) embracing the need to find our strength in a power greater than ourselves, as we sing along with the Psalmist for today:

We who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, *
abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

We shall say to the LORD,
"You are our refuge and our stronghold, *
our God in whom we put our trust."

Or if you attended the 10:30 service, we can sing the paraphrase:

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, Who abide in His shadow for life, Say to the Lord, "My Refuge, My Rock in Whom I trust."

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of His Hand.