JUST A LITTLE LONGER

March 9, 2014

Lent 1

Psalm 32

Matthew 4:1-11

(prayer)

You’ve got to pick your battles.

Is this the hill you want to die on?

Not every other issue warrants our fullest dedication, when compared to the realities of a finite supply of time and energy.

//

Sometimes it comes down to ‘principles’ versus ‘practicality’.

For me, this is a lesson I have learned through the experience of parenting.

I love the scene in the Ron Howard's movie, Parenthood, where the parents are in the principal's office discussing the needs of their oldest son - their theory was that (as the first born) he was likely overly coddled by nervous rookie parents.  Mary Steenburgen's character then says, "by the fourth one, you let them juggle knives."

True... in practice, if not specifics.

//

There are lots of things that might go a certain way - if everything could be at it’s ideal level, all the time.  But, more often, we have to choose what is really important - what is truly beyond
compromise - and the other things will need be flexible.  And moreover, we often discover that it is actually 'okay' that they are flexible - the world still rotates, the universe still expands even if every situation does not live up to it's ideal.

Think of Reb Tevye from Fiddler On the Roof , he believes that the specifics of the inherited tradition must be followed without question or compromise.  Why?  Well… because, it's TRADITION.

That is until his eldest daughter expresses her desire to marry Motel Komzoil, the poor
tailor, whom she loves, and not Lazar Wolf, the wealthy butcher, whom the matchmaker has picked for her. 

"On the other hand", Tevye says, as he argues with himself.  He has at least three hands before he decides to break tradition... if he can figure out a way to convince Golde (his wife).

This scene repeats two more times as Tevye and Golde's next oldest daughters wish to break with the marrying traditions.  After looking at the other hands, he agrees that Hodel will marry Perchik. 

But Tevye hits a wall when asked to agree to Chave's betrothal to a young Orthodox Christian peasant-farmer named Fyedka.  "There is no other hand!" Tevye dis-owns his third daughter at that point. 

Later, although Tevye cannot bring himself to look at her as she comes to say goodbye to the family, he audibly whispers "and God be with you" - clearly, even the immutable tradition has some room for compromise. We see hope of that at the end of the movie.

So, you might think that Tevye is wishy-washy; he doesn’t stand for anything; he cannot be
true to his beliefs and he crumbles when pushed. 

But… I think, in the end, the message of this tale of a Jewish-Ukranian milkman is that he will hang on to the bonds of family - he won't compromise that, even if it is at odds with long held traditions.

//

//

In each of the three years of the Revised Common Lectionary, the gospel reading for the First Sunday in Lent is the story of Jesus time in the wilderness following his baptism.  It is a story that is told in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), so a different version is read each year.  We’re in ‘Year A’ so we read from Matthew.  In two years (in ‘Year C’) we will read from Luke - whose version is very similar to what we heard today (coming from the “Q” source). 

Next year, all we will have is Mark’s unique two verse version: “1^:12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.”

//

As it said in the Seasons of the Spirit biblical background sheet, the context of our gospel reading this morning is that Jesus has just experienced a spiritual high point. He has been baptized by John and confirmed as the beloved child of God. How does Jesus respond to that affirmation? We are told that he is led by God’s Spirit into the wilderness to be tested. Wilderness is a time of seeking, journeying, and struggling with the possibilities. It is a powerful
image in the Hebrew Scriptures: the people of Israel and the prophets Elijah and Elisha all had wilderness experiences that forced them into choices and decisions. It is as if Jesus is faced with the same tests as the people of Israel when Moses led them out of Egypt. The role of the devil here is much like the role of Satan in the book of Job –in Matthew Jesus faces an accuser, a tester, rather than an inherently evil being. In fact, Jesus addresses the devil as Satan which in Hebrew means “accuser”. 
In this longer Matthew-Luke (Q) version, which we heard today, Jesus faces not just the rigors of a forty-day fast, but at the end of that Jesus faces some specific temptations to challenge the resolve of his faith and his trust in God.

1.     Food - if you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.

2.     Safety - if you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from the top of the Temple and prove that God’s angels will save you.

3.     Power - you can have dominion over all of the rulers of the earth, if you give your allegiance to me and not God.

//

After this month and a half spirit quest, Jesus is physically and mentally vulnerable - a time when he would be most susceptible to temptation.

I think we all know that there are times when we are in a better position to resist temptation than others: if we are physically tired or mentally drained - if we come to the conclusion that we have fought long enough and there is no shame in giving up at some point.

//

Jesus was especially vulnerable after his forty days in the wilderness - come on, Jesus - you have suffered enough - you deserve to take it easy for a while.  No one will think any less
of you.  You have earned this!

//

Jesus is tempted with three things that would make his life easier:

           Have his own needs met, without effort;

           Provide unequivocal proof that he is especially blessed by God - he can gain a
following without saying a word;

           Grab power and control over others - no need to gain support, just take it.

The promise of effortless reward - it is a tempting offer.  Of course, effortless does not mean free.  There is a cost for Jesus to giving into these temptations.  He has to figure out of the cost is worth it.  And as I said before, the more vulnerable you are the lower your price will likely be.

//

So, what does Jesus say?  He finds his resolve in the words of Scripture:

FOOD - Deuteronomy 8:³ - one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

SAFETY - Deuteronomy 6:¹³ - Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

POWER - Deuteronomy 8:3 - The Lord your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear.

//

Jesus came to John the Baptist and chose to focus his life on a ministry for God - he chose to spend time alone to discover the nature of this ministry - he is resolved to be faithful to God - to be prepared to make the efforts to sustain himself and his ministry and NOT give into the temptation for a quick fix; to show God’s love and compassion by touch and word, and NOT give into the temptation for a show filled with mind boggling tricks; to be true to the God of love, NOT one who only seeks to distract and oppress.  Jesus resolves to earn his authority among people, not force himself upon them.  Later he will tell his followers: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, [just] shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.”(Mt 10:¹³)

A wise person told me recently that “there are only two things that someone cannot take away from you:  your faith and your integrity.  Only you can give those away.”

It seems that Jesus - in spite of his vulnerability - was able to hand on to both.

//

The temptations that come our way may not be as dramatic as what Jesus is said to have faced.  We each has our own ‘times in the wilderness’ where our resolve is tested - when we know that it is a time not to compromise.  
// (from Seasons of the Spirit)

Wilderness times come to us in many ways. The place of testing and self-exploration may be physical or spiritual. When we are taken to the places of our vulnerability, we can find deserts, mountains and oceans of the soul even in crowded cities.

On Friday, during the World Day of Prayer service, we were reminded that there are streams in the desert that bring life and hope.

But when those streams are distant we do well to ask: Who am I as a beloved son or daughter of God? What are my rights and responsibilities? What are my limits and choices? Where do I put my trust?  These stretching and testing times strengthen us on our faith journeys

//

Wilderness times are times of challenge and possibility, where we may be stretched to our limits or need to make far-reaching decisions. Knowing who to trust and having clear guidelines help us make wise choices.

During the baptism earlier we said words together that reminded us that we are not alone that God is with us.  The psalm (which we sang and spoke this morning) called us blessed - in
the knowledge that God is trustworthy and forgiving - that God does not abandon us in the desert.

//

May this be something we can believe in, as we continue our Lenten journeys - as we await the Risen Christ in our midst.

Let us pray:

God of the journey, you meet us in the wilderness places of our lives, where we are stretched and tested. Walk with us and hold us on the pathway. Grant us wisdom and flexibility that we may grow in grace and love. Amen.

#614VU “In Suffering Love”