ANGELS IN THE WILDERNESS

Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

1st Sunday in Lent,  February 26, 2023

The Rev. Dr. Ritva H. Williams

Just as tv and film series such as Downton Abbey, All Creatures Great and Small, Bad Sisters, whatever your favorites are, tell a story over multiple seasons, so too the story of Jesus.

Season 1 (Advent through Christmas) begins with a birth announcement, a baby born in a stable, angels choirs, and visits from humble shepherds. 

Season 2 (Epiphany) gives us tantalizing glimpses into the identity of this baby as magi from foreign lands pay him homage, an evil king plots his death, his family moves to new town where he grows up to be a carpenter. Jesus’ immersion, as an adult, in the River Jordan is accompanied by a voice from heaven declaring him God’s beloved son, a prophet points to him as the Lamb of God, he proclaims the coming of God’s rule, preaches and teaches God’s values from a mountainside. In the last episode, on a mountaintop Jesus gives us a preview of the ultimate destiny of every human being, radiating the light of glory as a beloved child of God. 

Season 3 (Lent and Holy Week) focus on wilderness experiences. In this morning’s episode, we move back in time to meet Jesus rising dripping wet from his baptism in the Jordan River. The Holy Spirit leads him into the wilderness of Judea, a region of rocky, desolate hills and ravines, arid and dry, bleak and inhospitable. A hideout and haven for the nobodies of society — shepherds, outcasts, hermits and fugitives. The wilderness can be a place of danger, a place of trial and pain, a place of hunger and thirst, a place where demons dwell. The wilderness can also be a safe haven from noise and conflict, an oasis of peace, a place to breathe, a place to be still and know God. 

In the wilderness, Jesus fasts and prays for 40 days and nights, wondering and wrestling with the question: “what can it possibly mean that I am God’s beloved Son?" In the Jewish world of Jesus, “son of God” referred to angels, the entire people of Israel, the kings of Israel, and to humans who were particularly devoted to God’s service, like priests and prophets. Jesus knew he was not an angel, certainly not the entire nation, so did that mean he was a king, a priest, a prophet, or some other sort of servant destined for make a unique contribution to God's world? 

That’s where the Devil shows up, taunting Jesus: “if you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from the pinnacle of the Temple and prove that the scriptures are true, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and on their hand they will bear you cup so that will not dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12). And a third test: “worship me and you will rule all the kingdoms of the world.”

Our gospel writer says that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted/tested by the Devil. So did God set up Jesus up as a victim for the Devil’s trickery and lies? No, scripture teaches us very clearly that “God cannot be tempted by evil and God tempts no one … one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; when that desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when fully grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14). 

In this encounter, the Devil simply gives voice to Jesus’ normal human desire to do it all, have it all, and control it all. After all what could be wrong with turning stones into bread if it would end world hunger? What could be wrong with jumping off the temple if it showed the world that scripture was completely true and trustworthy? What could be wrong with the Son of God worshipping Satan in order to take over the world? He could just pretend to go along with the  the old demon, right?

Fortunately, Jesus is not alone in the wilderness with all these thoughts spinning in his head. The Holy Spirit is always present even if we don’t recognize her. She prompts Jesus to remember the scriptures: “Humans do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” “Worship the Lord, your God, and serve only God.” These words of God empower Jesus to align his mission with God’s dream for the world,  giving him the courage and faith to let go of his human desire, to do it all, have it all, and control it all. As Jesus lets go, committing himself to God’s dream, angels come and minister to him in the wilderness. 

What does Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness have to do with you and me? Confusion and bewilderment, loss and grief, conflict and abuse, and a whole range physical, mental, or emotional suffering and pain can bring us into a spiritual wilderness. We don’t usually ask for these situations, but they are seemingly inevitable in human life. Jesus shows us how to handle them. Jesus shows us that even though we may have to face off with the Devil, we are not alone. Holy Spirit walks along side us in the wilderness, reminding us of God’s words. Angels minister to us in the wilderness. God does some of God’s best work in the wilderness. 

Let me connect the dots for you. In the Transfiguration we get a preview of the end of The Story — God’s Story — in which all our futures are headed toward transformation into our true-child-of-God selves. On this 1st Sunday in Lent we are reminded that each one of us begins our faith journey as a beloved child of God, and that each of us has some issues to work through in the wilderness before we get to the mountaintop. The good news is that there are angels in the wilderness to guide and accompany us. 

“Beloved is Where We Begin” by Jan Richardson

If you would enter into the wilderness, do not begin without a blessing.                                 Do not leave without hearing who you are: Beloved,                                                                  named by the One who has traveled this path before you.                                                       Do not go without letting it echo in your ears,                                                                              and if you find it is hard to let it into your heart, do not despair,                                                that is what this journey is for.                                                                                                           I cannot promise this blessing will free you from danger, from fear,                                        from hunger or thirst, from the scorching of the sun, or the fall of night.                                 But I can tell you that on this path there will be help.                                                                   I can tell you that on this way there will be rest.                                                                            I can tell you that you will know the strange graces                                                                    that come to our aid only on a road such as this,                                                                       that fly to meet us bearing comfort and strength,                                                                      that come alongside us for no other reason                                                                                than to lean themselves toward our ear                                                                                       and with their curious insistence                                                                                                   whisper our name:                                                                                                                              Beloved.                                                                                                                                                Beloved.                                                                                                                                               Beloved.