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

After his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

Worldly convention tells us that Lent is a time that we give up something that is tempting to us; chocolate seems first on the list; alcohol is a frequent abolition of choice; of course, all meats or at least red meat on Fridays is a traditional centuries-old exclusion for the 40 days of Lent.  We consider giving up these luxuries as acts of self-denial, somewhat of a sacrifice that allows us to suffer in a small way along with Christ as he suffered on the Cross; or, at least to be more mindful of that suffering.

Certainly, for our own good health, we should limit our chocolate intake, we should use alcohol with good judgment and restraint, and we are wise to reduce our portions of red meat.   Lent is a good time to focus on healthier living for ourselves, resisting the harmful temptations of gluttonous overindulgence.  And, Lent is a time to focus more intently on our temptation toward lack of gratitude for the provision of the essentials of our lives – our daily bread – for which we should not forget to give thanks.  The ancient Hebrews countered this temptation with the established directive that, without fail, the first of the fruits of the harvest were to be brought forward as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

In our Gospel account of Jesus’ 40-day encounter with the devil in the wilderness we are confronted with temptations far more consequential.  These temptations are not concerned with that that goes into the body, but that that comes out in our words and actions.  These temptations that Jesus is encountering are the serious temptations of the heart, temptations toward evil, that diminish and have the potential to destroy, not only our physical and spiritual health, but the good health of our relationships with one another – temptations guided by the devil and in clear opposition to the kingdom of God.  These are temptations that have the capability to bring serious harm to our neighbor and all of God’s creation, temptations that involve our exploitation of or lack of concern for others in our selfish pursuits of earthly obsessions in ways that bring immeasurable inexcusable harm.

We learn that Jesus is led to the wilderness just after his baptism in the Jordan; thus, we are to understand that our baptism does not insulate us from temptation; we are intended to be confronted with the realities of hunger and despair.  Our strength comes in being tested by the cares of the world and thereby experiencing God’s supremacy over temptation.

Thankfully, on this first Sunday of Lent, Jesus is demonstrating for us God’s supremacy over temptation; Jesus maintains his ability to choose to be obedient to God in the face of temptation; Jesus lifts up to us our ability to make choices; we, too, much make the choice to hear and follow the voice of the devil or to hear and follow the voice of God.   Jesus is demonstrating the necessity of seeking God’s supremacy over our earthly obsessions – obsessions that make room for the devil to enter.

Jesus is not left alone in the wilderness to face these temptations presented by the devil; we are told the Spirit remains with him.  Neither are we left alone to confront temptations; the Holy Spirit remains with us during the times we experience this difficult sense of wilderness in our lives.

The devil’s temptation is real.  Here, in the wilderness, we are the most vulnerable.  The devil will meet us in the wilderness as he met Jesus in the wilderness.  He will be there in the little voices in our heads that tell us we haven’t the time to listen to God’s voice, we don’t have the talent to do God’s will, that God might lead us where we don’t want to go.  The devil is saying, “Be afraid; be very afraid.  You deserve earthly comforts, prestige, and protection.  Hold on to that anger; hold on to that resentment; punish those who have hurt you; they deserve it.  God has nothing for you.”

As faithful people of God, the wilderness becomes a time when we are open to God’s guidance and grateful for his mercy – a time when we draw strength from the vows of our Baptism.  When we draw strength from the vows of our baptism, we yield to God’s mercy and grace and love – and judgment.  And, yielding to God’s mercy, grace, love and judgment, we are reoriented in our faith journey.  And, we emerge with a stronger, clearer understanding of God’s will for our faith journey.

The devil will meet us in the wilderness, and he will seek to tempt us away from God’s will.  But, God is there with us in the wilderness; God is with us in this Holy Lent with his mercy, grace, and love.

If your time in the wilderness is a time to yield to God’s mercy, grace, and love, you will emerge with a clear sense of reorientation.  You will emerge with a clearer sense of your unique gifts and strengths – your unique place in the Body of Christ.

The wilderness is a time of vulnerable yielding.  Here in the wilderness, to whom will you yield?