Read: John 3:1-17

There’s an awful lot to unpack in this passage from John. Even if your knowledge of Biblical verse doesn’t extend beyond signs held up behind the goalposts of sporting events, you are likely familiar with the fundamental Christian credo expressed in John 3:16. But the part that speaks most to me is in the middle of this passage, and the Greek word that translates as both “wind” and “spirit.”

When my son, who recently turned 44, was in high school, one of the bands he introduced me to was an LA-based ensemble known as Tool. These days, I tend to describe them to the more staid among my peers as a “guilty pleasure” — although as time goes by I wonder what I have to feel guilty about. All these many years later, they are still around and producing some amazing music. Despite their being lumped into the genre of “Heavy Metal,” their songs have always struck me as nearly symphonic in their composition. Their most recent album, released in 2016, includes a song called “Pneuma”, which translates from Greek as “the vital spirit, soul, or creative force of a person.” I share some of its lyrics as another way of thinking about what Christ had to say to Nicodemus.

“We are spirit bound to this flesh
We go round one foot nailed down
But bound to reach out and beyond this flesh
Become Pneuma
We are will and wonder
Bound to recall, remember
We are born of one breath, one word
We are all one spark, sun becoming
Child, wake up
Child, release the light
Wake up now
Child, wake up
Child, release the light
Wake up now, child”

I first “awoke” on April 15, 1951. I have reawakened at various times in my life to the spiritual world as I “reach out beyond this flesh,” and I am assured that I will awaken again, bound to recall (remember) that I, like all of us, are born of one breath, one word.

Lord, I journey to you, my starting and ending point, with one foot nailed down in this material world. I thank you for surrounding me with the sound of the spirit and, in hearing it through my life, with the assurance that I will be born anew.
-Michael Boss

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