Musical Prelude and Service.

Romans 5:12-19 & Matthew 4:1-11
I suspect that a significant part of my reflections through Lent this year may be about how we see or
experience the wilderness – or what we perceive the wilderness to be. In scripture, the wilderness is
that frightening place away from the towns and cities. It is a place thought to be devoid of life. Away
from God. It is a place of trial. The Hebrews spend forty years wandering the wilderness before
entering the promised land. Jesus is led by the Spirit to the wilderness for a time of trial lasting forty
days. The wilderness represents those times and places in our lives when we are separated from the
things we find comfortable and reassuring. It represents how we can find ourselves removed from
what we find safe. It is in the wilderness that we are forced; or encouraged, to undergo a time of
learning. To learn who we truly are and what we are capable of. It is a time to test what we are
made of, what we truly believe in, and what really matters to us. It should not be considered a point
of shame to endure a time in the wilderness. All of us must navigate such times of trial, or testing.
Even Jesus is led to the wilderness.
This is part of his preparation to begin his ministry, before he selects his disciples and begins
journeying to Jerusalem, healing people on the way and teaching and preaching. It is in the
wilderness that Jesus encounters temptation at the hand of the Devil, or the adversary. In doing so,
he finds his answers to questions about what he is willing to sacrifice for comfort and power.
Lent can be seen as our own journey through a wilderness. Quite often Christian tradition asks us to
give up something for Lent. Jesus fasts during this time. The Devil suggests that he turn stones into
bread to satisfy his hunger. Jesus responds by saying that bread alone will not give him life. If we
make a choice to sacrifice something or commit to something; this response can give us something
to reflect on.
Jesus is tempted to push God to rescue him from his own attempt at harm; to provide proof of God’s
love and presence even in the wilderness. Jesus resists. And then he is offered incredible power if he
will turn his devotion away from God. Jesus finds himself answering questions about who he is; what
he values and to whom he belongs.
We too endure tests about who we are; were we find comfort and nourishment; what we truly desire
and how we will respond then tempted to misuse our gifts for easy fixes. We can feel we deserve
some added power or influence; a sense of luxury. We may be tempted to test how great God’s love
is for us by endangering ourselves. But as much as this wilderness time is a test, it also becomes a
reassurance. It is not necessarily a time that makes us stronger or smarter, but it is a time that
makes us, like it did Jesus I’d argue, aware of the strength we already possess. It assures us of our
resilience and our wisdom. When we endure our time in the wilderness; we are made aware of God’s
constant presence and the unending love that God has for us.
Because even though at first blush the wilderness may seem devoid of life. It may seem a place
abandoned by God; God is still there. Life continues to flourish. We just need to attune our senses in
order to perceive it. After the Devil departs, Jesus is served by Angels. God comes to Jesus in the
forms of these Angels who provide what Jesus needs.
We are asked during Lent to reflect on what it means to follow Jesus, even when we know this
journey takes us to the cross. We are called to follow Jesus, even when that journey may cross
through dark valleys; it may be painful at times, and we are certain to endure heartache and times of
fear.
It is a time to reflect and to repent when we acknowledge the ways we have lost our way. We may
be tempted to seek easy or convenient ways out of the most challenging parts of our journey with
Jesus. We may be tempted to sacrifice principles, or others who walk with us for our own
expediency. But if we keep our eyes and our hearts open, we can find incredible beauty along the
journey. We can discover strength we weren’t aware of. We can find a deeper connection to God and
to one another. And we may discover that those we walk with are in fact angels placed there to help
us through the wilderness.
Paul’s letter to the Romans is a very significant reflection on the nature of grace and God’s unending
love offered through Jesus the Christ, but it can be a challenging and bewildering read. The Apostle
uses a few different rhetorical techniques to make his argument about the all-encompassing nature
of God’s grace.
He presents a dialogue offering us both sides of a made-up debate to arrive at a conclusion. So, one
argument is presented by one imaginary character in order for Paul to eventually take it apart. He
also utilizes forms of debate, involving repetition and rhythm that can be challenging to follow.
In any case, Paul writes this letter to the churches in Rome to address the growing divide between
Jewish followers of Jesus and the gentiles who are drawn to this new movement. The key tension is
the question whether the gentiles need to convert to Judaism to be part of these new and growing
Jesus communities. Must they follow the Jewish dietary restrictions and other mandates such as
circumcision.
Paul is trying to address these tensions; arguing these are not necessary while at the same time not
dismissing the importance of these laws for Jewish members of their communities. In fact, he finds it
important to implore people to respect those who hold to those laws.
But as he argues in todays reading, Jesus’ saving work is there for everybody; regardless of who they
are and were they come from.
Paul points to Adam. We are all descendants of Adam. And because Adam chose to disobey God, he
brought sin into the world. That sin is also part of our inheritance. We are all capable of sin; of losing
our way, of missing our target. Our choices can bring harm for ourselves and for others. Paul argues
that sin can also bring death.
But Jesus, through his choices; his actions, the teaching, the healing; points us to a new life in God.
The life of Jesus and his death and resurrection reconcile humanity to God. Our relationship with God
is restored. This reconciliation is for all people. The whole world. God’s grace is offered to al of us, no
matter where we are, who we are, or where we come from. Just as Adam’s choices affected all
people, so is the saving work of Jesus for all people.
But this is not necessarily about what we are supposed to do. It’s not about shaming us into better
behaviour or the correct kind of faith. This is about remembering who we are in God’s world. This is
about remembering that no matter how powerless we can feel, how much we feel buffeted by the
storms of this world, we are still loved by God. We matter to God, and the holy mystery that is God
never forgets us and never gives up on us. God is still there, even during our time in the wilderness.
God knows who we are. God knows just how strong we are, how resilient we are and wants us to
remember that we are not alone. We are never alone. Even when we might feel all alone.
Even Jesus turns to others for help. Jesus is served by Angels in the wilderness. Who are the Angels?
How do we see God in that story?
In those moments when we find ourselves alone in the wilderness, may our senses be open to the
movement of the spirit. May our eyes recognize the signs of life that are in fact all around us. And
may our eyes, our ears, our hearts recognize the presence of God and God’s angels, working with us,
walking with us, and offering to serve us in those times of need.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Rev. Warner Bloomfield

Music provided with permission through licensing with CCLI License number
2701258 and One License # A-731789