Bulletin for the week of March 13, 2011

First Sunday in Lent, 2011

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17

Romans 5:12-19 or 5: 12, 17-19

Matthew 4:1-11

I recently saw a bumper sticker which read, “Eve was framed”. We might also say that Jesus was framed. Given today's stories about Adam and Eve and Jesus and the Devil we might call this Temptation Sunday. Most of you may not realize that each time we pray the Lord's Prayer, we say lead us not into temptation. We are asking God not to allow us to enter into any situations in which we might be tempted to do something wrong or sinful.

Temptations of any kind are invitations to do some things which are not good for us, or our conscience tells us we should not do. But we give in because we expect to get some pleasure or reward as the result of giving in. Specifically, a temptation is a test to see if we will be loyal to God. Let us look at temptations in our own life. How many of us believe that certain things or actions will make us look better, sound better, be more popular. Most of us allow ourselves to be deceived constantly. After all, there would be no advertisements if advertisers did not think they could tempt us to change our mind.

Most of us aren't faced every day with temptations that lead us to commit mortal or deadly sins. We usually face smaller temptations like passing on a little gossip or cheating on one question on a test. The worse deception of all is when we become convinced that some of our actions do not matter. What's a little lie here or there? What's an overly indulgent late night just once in a while? What's wrong with being selfish ever now and then? Who really cares if we are not too concerned about our health? Unfortunately, giving in to one temptation puts us on the wrong road. It is easier for us to give in again and again. The little white lie can lead to a bigger lie, and then an even bigger lie, all to cover up the first little lie.

In our First reading Eve tried to be convinced of her choice. Adam never questioned his. After all these years we are still not much different, though we do have better examples.

God gave Adam and Eve everything necessary for happiness. Life with God in the Garden of Eden was perfect. God's only rule was simple: DO NOT EAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE OF LIFE NOR FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. But God gave Adam and Eve a choice, what we call free will. Adam and Eve chose to do what they wanted to do. Sin is thinking we know better than God. Temptations let us question whether we live according to God's way or our way.

God warned Adam and Eve that death would result if His request was disobeyed. The devil tempted them and they disobeyed and death came. When Adam and Eve sinned they no longer trusted God. So they were expelled from the garden. This was not just a punishment, but it was God telling them that he could no longer trust them to do what was right.

We are decendents of Adam and Eve and so have a little of their genes. How could God ever trust us again? The answer is Jesus. God entered our world. Jesus took on all of our humanity. Jesus took on our pain of human growth, the pain of human suffering and hurt, and most importantly, Jesus took on that which fully separates us from God. Jesus chose human death so that he could be completely one with us.

Like Adam and Eve, Jesus found that he had temptations. But they may not be the kinds we wrestle with. The devil comes to Jesus with the Bible in his hands and tests Jesus by asking Jesus to do some strange things. Like changing stones into loaves of bread; by jumping off a high mountain and floating gently to the earth in the hands of an angel. The devil was offering Jesus three options for life which we might refer to as the three P's leading to temptation:PLEASURE, POPULARITY, AND POWER.

The first temptation is Pleasure. After fasting in the desert for 40 days, Jesus must have been desperately hungry. The devil wants Jesus to command these stones to be turned into bread.

The second temptation is Popularity. Throw yourself down and the crowds will love youIt is the temptation to take on impossible risks and challenges because we think we cannot ultimately fail and others will know us for what we did rather than why we did it. All these people I will give you if you kneel down and adore me. .

The third temptation is a desire for Power and control over others. The devil wants Jesus to worship him in exchange for unlimited power and control. And believe it or not that is where the devil usually gets us. We think we are in control and can control everything all by ourselves. We are convinced that everyone and everything is for our own selfish desires and needs. And when we are challenged by this we then start lying or blaming others.

Jesus' simple response to these temptations is: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. You shall not put the Lord, your God to the test. The Lord your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.

How can we keep our desires for pleasure, popularity, and power in tune with Jesus? By beginning today to make Lent a time of prayer and reflection. Lent is a time for us to do well what we must do. If you are married be the best husband or wife; if you are a mother or father, be the best mother or father; be the best son or daughter; be the best student, or the best in your work. Our traditional practice of giving up something for Lent is an attempt to return to the basics, and to rid ourselves of some of the things that complicate our lives. During Lent our spiritual challenge is to notice the booby traps which we stumble into.