Luke 4:1-2
The Temptation of Jesus
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.
Fresh from the waters of baptism
with the voice of God ringing in his ears
Knowing himself beloved of God
Jesus retreated to the wilderness
Taking his fill of communion with God
knowing that , all too soon,
everything would be changed forever
Realising that as soon as he stepped back onto
the treadmill of life -
even before that
the opportunity for solitude
for rest
for soaking up the pleasure of God
would be lost forever
And sure enough
Even before he emerged from the wilderness
he was offered the temptations
of comfort, wealth and power
that sought to sabotage his mission
before it even began.
On those days when our status
as beloved of God
rests on a shaky nail
(for us - not for God!)
when we are vulnerable,
ready to give in,
when it seems
that it would be easier to use our power,
to assert our authority
in ways that trample on others’ dreams
and that would take us further
from communion with God
may we be stopped in our tracks
by the God who offers retreat
in the midst of life.
And may we know that God
resourcing and enabling us
to choose hunger over comfort
and compassion over power
and love over everything
that seeks to diminish
the heart of God
that beats
deep within us
connecting us
with the source of all life
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