First Sunday in Lent DATE 5 th March 2017 (Year A) The Revd Mark McCracken. Encounters on the Journey meeting Christ in Temptation

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1 SUNDAY First Sunday in Lent DATE 5 th March 2017 (Year A) PREACHER The Revd Mark McCracken Encounters on the Journey meeting Christ in Temptation Genesis 2:15-17; 3: The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die. 3Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, Did God say, You shall not eat from any tree in the garden? 2 The woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die. 4 But the serpent said to the woman, You will not die; 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Matthew 4:1-11 4Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. 4 But he answered, It is written, One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, and On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said to him, Again it is written, Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; 9 and he said to him, All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me. 10 Jesus said to him, Away with you, Satan! for it is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. 11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

2 In the Name of Christ who makes us whole. Amen There s a terrible thing which can ruin a friendship. Or at very least completely spoil a night of conviviality and fun. NEVER, never, invite people over for food and fellowship and when they are settled with a drink and canape in hand break out your travel pictures or movies. It has been the ruin of many. People never thank you when you inflict your happy travel memories and mementos on them.

3 Slight pause I had an amazing trip in A Pilgrimage to Israel which moved me a great deal. I had many significant moments as we explored the land of Jesus and Scripture. Like all great trips we experienced many exotic things, saw strange places and marvelled at the scenery and the people. I got to know my fellow travellers very well indeed and grew very fond of them. And, being a spiritual pilgrimage, we also experienced remarkable moments of inspiration and holiness. Here s a very devoted young couple renewing their marriage vows in the Wedding Church at Cana. It was a powerful moment surrounded by God s grace and blessing.

4 Then there was this deeply Christian woman who renewed her baptism vows in the waters of the sacred Jordan River. A moving moment amidst many such connections with the story of Christ. And, of course, like all tours I developed a serious crush on the Pilgrimage leader. There were a lot of us on this Pilgrimage and there was one aspect of our journey that moved each and every one of us. We got to read from the story of Jesus at each significant site. One of our number read at the Sycamore Tree Zacchaeus shinnied up to catch a glimpse of the Lord; Someone else at the Garden of Gethsemane; On the Sea of Galilee; and even at Golgotha. It gave each of us a special connection and bond to a place mentioned in our Scriptures.

5 I can testify that that exercise connected me to a powerful part of the story of Christ. And much more besides. I found myself in Jericho. And, more importantly - here. In a small chapel in a monastery perched on the side of a mountain looking out over the desert waste. I found myself reading the text from Matthew that we heard today. Remembering the temptation of Jesus standing on the Mount of Temptation. Stirring is an inadequate word to describe the experience. We heard from Matthew and then reflected on the very beginning of Jesus ministry. He goes into the wilderness to confront how he is to live out his calling by God. How he is to embody his ministry to the world. Jesus in the wilderness is struggling with the temptation to take things into his own hands. Wow them with miracles and pander to the demands of mass media. You know give people what they think they want rather than what they really need. To rely on his own powers of persuasion and authority. Show his inner power and make people obey his will, Place himself in control and at the centre of things. To be the dominant ruler and not the humble servant who places his very life in the people s hands. In short to take up his ministry in his own strength and not God s.

6 Yet his knowledge of our People s story as revealed in Scripture, and his intimate sense of who God is and what God s purpose for the beloved creation looks like keeps him on the path to true wholeness and the fulfilment of his nature. Jesus doesn t make the same mistake Adam and Eve and every human being who followed them makes. He chooses the Godly way which brings life giving miracles, challenges to the way things are, meaningful authority and power and through his remarkable humility, a clear glimpse of the Divine purpose. Jesus wrestles with the temptation to go it alone.to do things in his own strength. For he knows that in that way lies disaster, no matter how well intentioned he is. When human beings exert their will over another without care for the Divine agenda, things have a habit of becoming unstuck. Jesus knows this and struggles with what he knows must be done for kingdom to come and the resources he has before him. With the help of the Bible and the power of God s Spirit which was strong within him, he defeats what is an all too common human failing. Our default position to do things in our own strength. I know that temptation and failing only too well. If I had to characterise the most consistent spiritual struggle I have faced throughout my Christian journey it would be just that. I m good with words. I m interested in people and their stories, and I m good at thinking on my feet. I also, of course, consider modesty to be one of my greatest virtues. All of this means I can be very persuasive and charming when I want to be. I can motivate people and communities which makes me good at leadership. It also leads me into terrible trouble. Like my spiritual shadow, I m like Jacob if I m not careful. I try to do things in my own strength. Relying on my wits and cleverness to make things happen. For good I hope.

7 But still from my own capacities which are limited by my own blind spots and assumptions. Like human beings in general I try to do it all myself and invariably run into trouble. Christ has been there throughout trying very hard to bring me to my senses. I have felt his presence when I fall into temptation. I have encountered the Spirit of Christ in a profound and inexplicable way twice in my life. Once on the Mount of Temptation. The other many years before. You ve heard me reflect on a very painful family breakup that I survived way back in the twentieth century. I was deeply wounded and wasn t sure what to do and where to turn. I had run out of ideas and energy. There was no thinking my way out this mess. No clever words or ideas that I could use to win the day. I had wisely decided to go on an Ignatian Retreat and found a lot of Godly interventions in those days. Most stunning was during one of many long night vigils in the chapel. I was praying before this icon. It may be the earliest picture we have of Jesus Christ. And it was my lifeline as I sought God s peace in a vulnerable situation. There s a tradition about icons that says that if you look long enough at the face of the figure and pray long enough it will become animated.

8 That was my gift that night from Christ as I gave up trying to sort out the world from a position of my own strength and capabilities. I was touched profoundly and in a completely non-rational way. It started a long journey towards wholeness. This type of encounter is not something that has figured prominently in my spiritual journey. I am by no means a mystic. I fact I spend a lot of time looking outside of myself rather than attending to my inner life. But here was this unexpected encounter which helped me overcome temptation and move towards the wholeness and life that God has in store for me. The Spirit of Christ broke through to me. Past my rational defences and in time to set me free from my favourite temptation. Unfortunately I am a slow learner when it comes to such things. As I look around me I know I am good company. Many years later, although I have always treasured that moment, it had forgotten the lesson. I was yet again struggling to sort out a personal issue this time in a struggle with our Church hierarchy. How could I get them to see reason without having to bare my soul to people I didn t think would understand? Then I undertake Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Standing in the chapel of the monastery of the Mount of Temptation. God can t be too subtle when it comes to me. Given how inattentive I can be to the unfolding of God s work within me. I look up into the dome of the chapel.

9 Another Christ Pantocrator. Looking over me with authority and love. And I read from Scripture about his temptations. The temptation to undertake his most difficult ministry in his own strength. But deciding to give it all over to the God who brings Life and Life in abundance into the world. And as I read this? I felt the most remarkable surge of energy running through me from my feet through the top of my head. It was like I had stepped on a live wire. I understood that to say: Mark, there is Godly power aplenty. And much that even such an attractive and wise priest like you knows nothing about. Leave it with me. Leave it with me. ********* As we journey through this Lenten season I wonder if that might be a useful reminder to all of us about the sort of temptation that we must face if we are to be those people God created us to be. Some of us want to wheel and deal and make things work the way we want them to. Others blame themselves for everything that happens around them All of this is placing ourselves at the centre of our life and not Christ. All of this is based on the assumption that we are responsible for the way things turn out. That we must manage through our own strength alone. An idea that will take us so far but can lead us into trouble when we discover that the world is far more complex than we imagine. That we are not made to be independent, stand-alone creatures, but communal beings. We are made for a community (relying on one another s unique talents and qualities) which is gathered around Christ. Christ who enables us to be more complete and stronger than we ever imagined.

10 Our calling this Lent is to resist temptation and let him take the lead for us in our spiritual journey. Please Note: What I am NOT doing in all of this is elevating moments like I ve described above all of the other remarkable encounters we have with Christ. Through the reading of scripture and inspiration writing and art; In loving service to and from others; In quiet prayer and vibrant worship. It s all there for us and is all for the same reason. To help us overcome our temptation and become more focused on the one who wants more for us than we can imagine. Jesus Christ our Lord. Here are some of the only words Jesus instructed us to use. Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen ************ There is a pause after the sermon and then these prayers are offered. The priest moves to the first station holding bread and stones. A candle is lit and this poem is offered in prayer and reflection. Go to this slide.

11 THE FIRST TEMPTATION The Fountain thirsts, the Bread is hungry here The Light is dark, the Word without a voice. When darkness speaks it seems so light and clear. Now He must dare, with us, to make a choice. In a distended belly s cruel curve He feels the famine of the ones who lose He starves for those whom we have forced to starve He chooses now for those who cannot choose. He is the staff and sustenance of life He lives for all from one Sustaining Word His love still breaks and pierces like a knife The stony ground of hearts that never shared, God gives through Him what Satan never could; The broken bread that is our only food. The priest moves to the second station holding coins and sand. A candle is lit and this poem is offered in prayer and reflection. Go to this slide.

12 THE SECOND TEMPTATION So here s the deal and this is what you get: The penthouse suite with world-commanding views, The banker s bonus and the private jet Control and ownership of all the news An in to that exclusive one percent, Who know the score, who really run the show With interest on every penny lent And sweeteners for cronies in the know. A straight arrangement between me and you No hell below or heaven high above You just admit it, and give me my due And wake up from this foolish dream of love But Jesus laughed, You are not what you seem. Love is the waking life, you are the dream. The priest moves to the third station that has Christ Pantocrator. A candle is lit and this poem is offered in prayer and reflection. Go to this slide.

13 THE THIRD TEMPTATION Temples and Spires are good for looking down from; You stand above the world on holy heights, Here on the pinnacle, above the maelstrom, Among the few, the true, unearthly lights. Here you can breathe the thin air of perfection And feel your kinship with the lonely star, Above the shadow and the pale reflection, Here you can know for certain who you are. The world is stalled below, but you could move it If they could know you as you are up here, Of course they ll doubt, but here s your chance to prove it Angels will bear you up, so have no fear. I was not sent to look down from above It s fear that sets these tests and proofs, not Love. The priest returns to the altar. Let us offer our temptations to Christ and please for his presence. Silence Help us to make a holy Lent and holy lives O Lord. Amen