Read: John 3:1-17

I can show love to this congregation by . . .

Asking how you are today and next week and the week after that
Being kind at all times regarding any division that might separate us: age, background, infirmity, faith walk, politics
Cherishing time together before, during, and after worship—and through the week
Doing flowers for the altar, lovingly and intentionally
Edifying each member of this body in all I say and do
Facing uncertain times at your side
Giving of my time and talents: reading, writing, singing, stitching
Holding your hand (and walking my talk, i.e. moving to and sitting in a different pew to do so)
Investing in your life story: your background, family, career, hobbies, hardships, joys, travels, celebrations, and grandkids (and yes, even dogs and grand dogs!)
Joining your table at coffee hour
Keeping appointments and obligations and promises I’ve made to you and the church
Listening
Mourning with you
Nursing your wounds, literally and figuratively, by word and action
Opening my heart to yours—and not being afraid to do so
Praying with you and for you
Quietly seeking you out
Reaching out to you by phone or email or text in between worship services
Studying God’s Word with you one-on-one or in a group, in person or via Zoom
Taking time to sit with you or talk with you or walk with you
Using unusual and creative ways to show love (valentines aren’t only for February)
Visiting you when you are sick and administering prayers for healing
Worshipping beside you, in and out of the church building
Xing-out any negative thoughts that cross my mind
Yielding to you in conversation
Zeroing in on your needs, mind-to-mind and heart-to-heart and soul-to-soul

Dear Lord and Author of Life, take these simple letters and help us to mold them into love in action, showing one another that we truly care. Amen.
-Ashley Sweeney

Read: Matthew 4:1-11

“Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and began to serve Him. “ Matthew 4:11 (NAB)

We might notice three sections to this passage of Matthew: the Spirit leading Jesus into the desert, the temptations, and angels coming and serving Him. I like “good” endings like this, where the preceding tension and struggle are resolved. In this case, the resolution was hard-earned. Jesus stays with the temptations, listens to them, and discerns how they seek to pry him away from his commitment to a community that lives in faithful relationship with God.

The Spirit leads him into the desert away from his family, friends, and faith community yet the ties are too strong for Jesus to act outside of these relationships. Jesus does not succumb to a selfish solitude that disconnects him from others and from God.

Jesus has given us a pattern to follow when we are led into the desert of temptation. We may feel alone but we are not alone, we are vitally interconnected in the web of God’s creation and Love, no matter where we find ourselves. It is our community of faith, those known and unknown, who daily remind us of this interconnected web of Love. As a community, we are both givers and receivers of this Love which strengthens us in desert times of temptation.

May our love be strong for each other, may our hope be strong for each other, and may our prayers be strong for each other, as we are knit together in God’s heart. Amen.

-Sharon Weldon

Read: Matthew 4:1-11

“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted …”

Our focus this year is on community.

The story of Jesus in the wilderness variously describes him as being led by the Spirit (Matthew, Luke), or “driven” by the Spirit (Mark) to be “tempted.” I’m fascinated by those two images, those two approaches. Early on in my ministry, a well-seasoned vestry member gave me some advice in being a church leader: “Remember you’re a pastor, a shepherd. Shepherds lead flocks; cowboys drive cattle.”

Mark tells us Jesus was, literally “driven” into the wilderness. It’s the same word being used as when Jesus “drove” the moneychangers out of the temple. It’s a John Wayne moment, in some ways, but sometimes we need to be driven to do the right thing, to stop doing the wrong thing. Perhaps Jesus’ first temptation had nothing to do with the devil, but with his desire to stay home and keep on keeping on with his daily routine. I sometimes think God drove me out of law enforcement and into ministry, even though I felt awfully ill-equipped to do the job. What on earth did I know about God or ministry? A whip cracked and I heard the voice say, “Move along, little doggie!” So I did.

Matthew tells the story a bit differently. Here he sees the Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness, much like the shepherd in Psalm 23. Jesus follows the Spirit into the wilderness, just like we follow the One who is our Good Shepherd. He locates still waters, lush green grasses and (as our knees knock in nervous anxiety) leads us through the valley of the shadow. Although Jesus may seem alone in his own journey, the Spirit is with him, leading him, guiding him, and watching over him. We may sometimes seem alone, too, but we’re not. Jesus leads, guides, and watches over us – always.

Lent reminds us that we, too, are called to lead. We know where the still waters are: Jesus leads us there. We know where the green grass is. Jesus leads us there. We know our way through the valley of the shadow, for Jesus leads us through that, as well.

Let us pray. Guide us O, thou great Jehovah, to the promised land. We are weak, but thou art able, hold us with thy powerful hand. Amen.
–Fr. Keith Axberg

Read: Matthew 4:1-11

…Again, the Slanderer [diabolos] carries him off, to an extremely high mountain, and displays before him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, And said to him, “All of these things I shall give to you, were you to prostrate yourself and make obeisance to me…” (Excerpt translated by David Bentley Hart)

I’m drawn to the third and final temptation in this passage. Old Diabolos offers Jesus the power of a king. Jesus’ rebuke sends the devil skulking away while angels approach.

People around Jesus had various power agendas they wanted him to support. Religious leaders didn’t want him to interfere with their power arrangement with Rome. Zealots wanted him to support the violent overthrow of Roman power. Others generally wanted him to Make Israel Great Again. The four Gospels all make clear that Jesus had no designs on political power. In the Fourth Gospel Pilate prods Jesus on this issue. “Are you then a King?” The answer boils down to “no.”

This temptation to coercive power is current. I’ve been reading about spiritual leaders behind the Christian symbolism and language and worship on display at the US Capitol building during the January 6 insurrection. They redefined Scriptural and theological terms well ahead of that day in support of their notion that their brand of Christians was appointed by God to exercise political control over the nation. Violent and inflammatory language spewed from their mouths at the rally. On Facebook this morning, a Christian relative and follower of this movement names “evil leftists” and writes: “Although vengeance belongs to the Lord, I am more than comfortable being a tool doling out the consequences of defeating evil. I will not turn the other cheek….”

So where am I with this temptation? Where and when and how do I find myself lusting after the power to make others do what I think they should do? What would a more Christ-like desire look like in me?

Strong and merciful Jesus, defeat the lust to dominate and control. Give me only the power that comes from loving your image in others. Amen.
-Fr. Jonathan Weldon

Read: Matthew 4:1-11

In 2016, I took on my tasoni friend Laura’s Coptic Orthodox fast, and it was grueling. I had not done adequate meal planning or prepping beforehand, and it came back to bite me. I tired of pita and hummus, carrots and hummus, veggie burgers, and tofu dogs before too long, and all I wanted was a gosh darn tuna sandwich from Subway with a massive handful of pickles. (This was, of course, before Subway’s tuna was shown to be… well… NOT tuna.)

I was talking to Laura about it one day (OK fine… I was whining), and she explained to me that this fast was for *ME* and that I could stop it if it was hurting me. She also promised to send me something to help me out.

A few minutes later, an invitation to the “Recipes for the Coptic Fast” Facebook group popped up in my messages. In this group, I found ideas for meals, commiseration on how sick people were getting of eating French fries, and tips for converts doing the fast for the first time. While I did end up having to break my fast for health reasons, having this wealth of information and the community of like-minded people made the rest of my fast bearable.

It was for this reason that I absolutely understand why it is pointed out in Scripture that after 40 days, Jesus was hungry. Our hunger pangs can cloud our judgment, and I absolutely understand why Satan led with that test. It would have taken a supernatural amount of strength to resist it. Jesus had that strength as the Son of God, but we can help others bear temptations like that when we join together as a community.

Gracious God, help us to band together to enable others to bear their temptations. Amen.
-Jen McCabe

Read: Matthew 4:1-11

I have worn a cross around my neck for most of my life for a variety of reasons. Most recently, I often place the small pendant over my collarbones before I head to my middle school classroom and the image of a stole comes to mind: my vocation as calling and mission (plus a quick plea for grace and endurance that the “sevies” won’t bring me down today!) Choosing to wear a cross doesn’t give me superpowers, serve as a talisman, or make me a Christian, but it does remind me of my identity: who I am and whose I am.

It is interesting to me that 2 of the 3 temptations in Matthew 4 revolve around Jesus’ identity. In this passage, Jesus enters a Spirit-designated time of physical and spiritual trial. In a weakened state, he is approached by Satan who quickly reveals his plot: twist the promises of God and manipulate the Messiah into questioning who he is and whose he is:

(v 3 Smith loose translation): If you are the Son of God … do this miracle, turn these stones, fill your belly. You know what’s best, don’t wait on God. You’ve got this, right? Prove yourself.

(v 4) If you are the Son of God… make God prove it. You’re just that Nazarene with a big head and bigger claims. Throw it all down, God man. Make God prove how special you are, force his hand.

Jesus is not manipulated and answers with strength and authority. Jesus knows who he is and refuses to be baited by Satan’s twisted misuse of words that Jesus helped craft to begin with. Satan tempts Jesus to prove himself (his worth, value, authority) and in so doing tempts Jesus to doubt his identity. But Jesus doesn’t have anything to prove. He knows who he is and whose he is. I need to walk in this truth.

Breath prayer:
(Inhale) Abba, I belong to you… (Exhale) …contend with my insecurity
(Inhale) Abba, I belong to you… (Exhale) … comfort my anxiety
(Inhale) Abba, I belong to you… (Exhale) … help me not take the bait!
-Nicole Smith