THREE LEVELS OF TEMPTATION

Brother,

Thank you for your profound reference to Wordsworth this week. I have sent it to all my students and staff as an idea for Lent. Three years ago I said in my blog for this Sunday that "perhaps our reflections need to be more 'reflective' like yours was and less academic.....".  Still makes me think...three years later

The first Sunday in Lent always takes us to Jesus in the desert. The evil one always has one purpose in the bible - to lead us off the path that leads to God and make the primary desire of our lives something other than God. I know this only too well in my life and I'm sure you do too.

So, in the desert Jesus is tempted in three ways by the devil. The first is a low level, basic temptation. That's why it occurs on the desert floor. "Turn these stones into bread." A temptation to make sensual pleasure the centre of his life. We are not 'puritans' in the stereotypical meaning of that word. We enjoy the physical pleasures of this life we think they are good and given by God but when they become the lord of our lives then our deep desire for God is not realised. These sensual desires are like little children. They are always saying "I want it now! I want it NOW!" and if we allow them to dominate they will take over our lives. So Jesus says that we cannot live my bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. In other words we cannot reduce our lives to this very restricted compass.

The devil then takes Jesus to a high position. To the parapet of the temple. The temple at the time of Jesus would have been the very centre of society, the economic, political and cultural and religious centre. To be on the parapet would be to be at the top of society where everyone can see you and admire you. This is the temptation to glory and honour. Sometimes we can leave behind the sensual and physical temptations but we crave glory.

The devil then takes Jesus to the highest level, a high mountain, and in one glance he shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. "These I will give you if you but bow down and worship me" . This is the temptation to power. Sometimes we can resist the low level stuff and even glory we can resist but we want power - to be able to manipulate others. Once we have power most people do not want to let go of it. Jesus resists that temptation also. He is now ready to make the Father the centre of his life.

In Lent that is what we are all doing. We all go into the desert and we all confront the devil. All those levels of temptation - the sensual, the glory and the power. When we can rise above those temptations we are ready to do God's work in the world.

May the Spirit strengthen you brother.

Mark