We began Lent by reflecting on that very strange story about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by the Devil, you can read it in the New Testament of the Bible, Matthew 4. 1-11. Imagine for a moment being tempted in the wilderness, what would your demon have to say to you? What are the world’s demons saying in general, especially to those who have the power to influence? Well, I explored just this in a little story….
In the desert, you kick the sand into temporary clouds for your own amusement, a small act of creation, causing a moment of chaos in an otherwise still landscape, perhaps scattering ants, or giving a scorpion a headache.
No act is without its consequences. Remember that.
Well, its my wilderness, and I can do whatever the hell I want, says the Devil within you. Or is it the God within you? Sometimes we mix them up… sometimes they’re the same thing.
You are the Prince of all that you survey. And if you’re a prince, well, you can do what you want, can’t you? People will turn a blind eye, won’t they? After all your position has been ordained by God, hasn’t it? And, you have a right, don’t you? God, given, apparently. Anway, whatever, the rules hardly apply to you. Until they do…
Imagine you are a Prince, for a moment. Or, even better, the son of God! It shouldn’t be too difficult, the world’s full of Trumped-up little Emperors, take a look at them. Ah, see what I did there? Trumped up little Emperors… oh, never mind.
Where was I, the son of God! Little known fact here, In the Roman Empire , it was believed that the Emperor was the actual son of God! It was quite a common term apparently.
So you’re the son of God, or an emperor, or a prince or a little princess, well, in your mother’s eyes anyway…
Whatever… there are standards to maintain, and you deserve everything you’ve got, and everything that you’ve got coming to you. Don’t you…?
So, you’re feeling hungry, well its only to be expected, you’ve been trudging around this wilderness for hours, and upsetting the local wildlife, such as it is.
And then you see it, a rock! Or is it a loaf of bread, it looks like it could be a loaf of bread you know, if you squint, or have a really good imagination, go on, says the Deamon within, or is it the God. Details, never mind… Go on, take this Rock and for you it will be bread!
Yes, I know that the rest of the Empire is struggling to survive, but there are standards to maintain, you are the Emperor, the son of God, you have to be well-fed, it gives people hope, or something like that. And I tell you what, whilst your at it you take the Amazon Rainforest and turn it into fields of Beef, McDonalds will be lovin it.
So, are you going to do it? Well, it depends which God you listen to really. Do you prioritise your own appetite, and the appetites of others are just like you, or do you listen to that other voice, you know the one that rattles on about love, grace, justice, and all that kind of stuff…? You know the one that insists that truth and meaning require sacrifice. But look, stone, bread, bread stone, it’ll be transformed, just like that. Go on, I can see you’re tempted, what are you going to do?
Really? Your choice…
On we go then.
It’s a bit boring this wilderness, isn’t it? I know, change of scene, let’s take a look at the city, I know just the place, lets stand on the roof of the Temple, you get the best views from here . Amazing, isn’t it? Those people are just like ants, lets cause a little chaos, disturb the sand a bit. You know, what with you being the son of God, I bet you could jump off from here and Daddy would send his angels to protect you. Its what parents do isn’t it? Save their little princes and princess’ from their little scrapes? Sheild them from the consequences of all their daft decisions. And you know, if by any chance you did fall, not that you will, but if you did, well, you’d be immortal, wouldn’t you? Your name would live forever! Everybody wants to be a celebrity these days.
What? What’s that you say? Your not going to put daddy to the test? Hang on, what about faith and all that kind of stuff. Oh I see, you prefer the quiet kind of faith, the kind that moves mountains in a subtle way and doesn’t neglect responsibility.
Ah well. Still, nice view from here. Top of the world! Look at all those buildings, steel and glass as far as the eye can see, we’ve come a long way since the pyramids you know. Do you know how many slaves it took to build the pyramids? No, neither do I, I kind of lost count, and most of them didn’t last long, there was a kind of natural wastage, but, you know, there was always replacements, that’s the good thing about cheap labour, plenty of it, plenty of supply to meet the demand. Good old days, but I guess not much has changed really, when you get down to it… there’s nothing quite like it, the smell of the sweat shops, but you don’t need to worry about that you’re a prince, the son of God, and you know, all this could be yours, aim high, be top of the pile, you just need to bow down. And all these big buildings, and all the little people, will be yours, forever, it’s the order of things don’t you know…
Bow down to what you say? Well, you know, to the God or, the demon, to what makes all of this possible! Amazing, isn’t it?
Still, no? What kind of son of God are you exactly? Some emperor you’ll make…
Ah well, it’s your cross, you may as well hang from it…
It is Lent, a time to reflect on who we are, on what motivates us, and who we listen to. This is what Christ was doing when he was tempted in the wilderness, and perhaps we find ourselves in our own wilderness. But we’re not alone, and everything we do has consequences for others, as well as ourselves. We’re invited to face our own Demons, the obvious demons, but also those who disguise themselves as Gods, who appeal perhaps to our more selfish side, or even more tricky disguise themselves as “Common Sense” or “normal”. But in an unjust world, the trouble with normal is that it always gets worse.
It is a time to be angry, as Christ was angry, but also to be gentle as Christ was gentle. And like Christ, we face the question. Who is your God? Is your God the God of pride and power? Or is your God, love? If its pride and power, well, you’re on your own, because this God claims that its everyone for themselves. If you’re God is love, well, well love tells the truth, that we’re all connected, and we all have sacrifices to make. It is the way of the Cross, and we carry it together.
Revd Dean.
19th February: Intoduction