Greetings on the First Sunday in Lent as the journey of reflection and reconciliation in our world filled with temptation.
Our invitation to worship recognizes that we are tempted by the world and that God, through Jesus, helps and saves us as we wrestle with our temptation. Our first lesson from Genesis describes the identity of Adam and Eve and the fall after being tempted by the serpent. The psalmist offers a song which reminds us that confessing our sins keeps us connected to God, even when we miss the mark. The reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans recounts the who arc of human existence beginning with Adam and his fall to temptation and Jesus’ saving grace. The reading from Matthew’s gospel follows Jesus’ baptism and recounts the three temptations of the Tempter to wield power in a way which is against his identity.
We are reminded through our liturgy and study of scripture that we sin, mostly because we are no longer present in the Garden by the willful actions of Adam and Eve. But the journey we are taking is one which should help us be restored to a true and vibrant relationship with God, not stuck in our sin. That journey is mediated and moderated by Jesus and his example, not because he is God incarnate, but because he spends time in prayer and reflection to determine what his appropriate response to the pressures that are in the world. Our journey is not to simply “quote scripture” or “blame Adam for all the troubles we have” because we have community and relationship with Jesus to help us not be overcome by sin. Our success can only be found in the process of being saved.
How will you recognize what keeps us from moving forward and to whom we can be joined in our journey towards our heavenly goal? I invite your comments,
Les+
Lessons: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/lent-1-sermon-2
