Reverend Raymond Lange

"Sacrifice and Temptation"

The preacher, Lee Griess, tells a silly story of an overweight businessman who decided Lent would be a good time to shed some extra pounds. So he made a pledge to give up sweets for Lent. He took his diet seriously, even changing his route to work to avoid his favorite bakery. One morning however, he showed up at work with a gigantic coffee cake. Everyone in the office scolded him, but his smile remained none the less. “This is a special coffee cake,” he explained. “I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window was a host of goodies. I felt it was no accident, so I prayed, ‘Lord, if you want me to have one of those delicious coffee cakes, let there be a parking spot open right in front of the bakery.’ And sure enough, the eighth time around the block, there it was!” I suspect there are times when we can all relate to that story.

Each year the season of Lent begins with a telling of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry. In the fourth chapter of Luke we read: “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4:1-2) In the wilderness Jesus was tempted three times. Each time he withstood the temptation. “When the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Holy Spirit into Galilee.” (Luke 4: 13-14)

Jesus’ time in the wilderness was a time to prepare himself for the ministry that lie ahead. It was a time for Jesus to focus on God and on his own spiritual journey. In remaining true to his calling, Jesus was able to withstand the greatest of temptations.

For Christians, the forty days of the season of Lent, is our time in the wilderness. Lent is our time to focus on our relationship with God and on our spiritual development. That is where today’s tradition of “giving up something” for Lent comes from. Sacrifice is a means of nurturing spiritual well being. The thinking is that as we abstain from physical pleasures, we enhance our spiritually sensitivity.

Of course, the biggest problem with Lenten sacrifice is that of giving into temptations that break our promises to self and to God. In Jesus we have a model of one who faced the greatest of temptations and remained true to himself and to God. Would that we could be as faithful in our Lenten commitments

Personal sacrifices and self-denial can be helpful ways to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sakes. If you decide to “give something up” this Lent I pray that you will remain faithful to your pledge. But more, I pray that our preparation for Lent will also include “taking something up.” May your actions toward others reflect the love of Christ in you and through you. May we demonstrate to the world, the place of Christ in our lives through deeds of kindness this Lenten season.

RFL