Pew Sheet, Sunday, 9th March 2025, The First Sunday of Lent.
In our Gospel reading today, Jesus repeatedly uses Old Testament texts to rebut Satan when he tries to make him bow down and worship him during Jesus’ forty days of testing in the Judaean wilderness. Jesus is fatigued and has not eaten, so Satan encourages him to prove his divinity and satisfy his hunger by turning stones into bread, inspired perhaps, by one of the many bread-like stones which can still be seen in the area, and are a natural phenomenon caused when the harsh winds degrade some of the softer sandstone boulders which litter the desert floor.
In doing so, Jesus paraphrases a text from Deuteronomy 8:3 and reminds his adversary that, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God”. Jesus likewise paraphrases Deuteronomy 6:13 when he responds to Satan’s offer to give him complete authority over the nations of the earth if he would only bow down and worship Satan by saying, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” This theme carries on in our Deuteronomy passage today, when the ancient Israelites are told to pay homage to God with the first fruits of their harvest and “bow down before the Lord your God” as they do so as an appropriate response to his goodness.
These verses show the audacity of Satan’s suggestion that Jesus bow down to him in the wilderness, for the only object of worship is God and God alone, as the above verses and many others make clear. They remind us that there is only one proper and fitting way to show our true deference to God for God’s holiness, goodness, and compassion towards us; and just as the Israelites were to bow to the one who freed them from slavery in Egypt “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” into the bounteous provision of the promised land, we too should bow the knee – metaphorically if not physically – to God our Creator and Redeemer as we give him our praise and worship day by day.
Our Gospel reading also reminds us that the enemies of God often look for adulation, worship, and the abasement of those over whom they hold sway; and often display signs of self-adoration or a narcissistic self-love which is the worship of their own ego. Sadly, many of the world’s current leaders seem
to show this trait in abundance, but this is never a sign of a God-centred or God-fearing personality, no matter what claims to religious ‘truth’ or ‘divine purpose’ they use to justify their positions. A wilful and persistent desire for adulation and praise; and the need to be flattered and acquiesced to, could not be further removed from the servant-leadership modelled by Jesus, and in no small part by others, such as Pope Francis or the late Queen Elizabeth.
Paul, writing to the fledgling Christian community in Rome from incarceration at the hands of the egotistical and vainglorious Emperor Nero reminds his readers that we only live righteously when we acknowledge Jesus alone as Lord; for we will then live justly and walk humbly and faithfully before God, which is what true righteousness means. This is manifested in our Lenten prayer and fasting as well as giving generously to the poor, forgiving others, and loving our enemies. To live this way is to model the righteousness of God in the world, but we can only do this when, in the words of today’s Collect, we know God’s power to save; which includes of course, God’s power to save us from our own egos, so that we might bow to God and God alone, and not to those who make Gods of themselves, as Nero and many others have done since then, and continue to do.
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace so to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, ‘Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.’ When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil,
and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.’ You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.
Romans 10:5-11
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”, that is, to bring Christ down, or “Who will descend into the abyss?”, that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. But what does it say?
‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ - that is, the word of faith that we proclaim; because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’
Luke 4:1-13
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. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread,’ but Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.”
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him: ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test,” and when the devil had finished every test, he departed from Jesus until a more opportune time.
Post Communion Prayer
Lord God, you have renewed us with your living bread.
By it you nourish our faith, increase our hope, and strengthen our love.
Teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread,
and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from out of your mouth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This Week’s Events
Monday
Bell Ringing, 7.30pm in St Laurence. Contact Jan on 07835 461361.
Tuesday
Zoom In Morning Prayer, 9am. Meeting ID: 539 3978774 password: TuaR0T or contact Sue on [email protected] (The 0 in R0T is a zero not an ‘O’)
Evening House Group, contact Jo on 07803 942 687 for more information.
Wednesday (Ember Day – pray for those considering or training for ordination)
Morning Coffee, 10.00-11.45am in the St Laurence Room.
Midweek Holy Communion, 12.00 noon, St Laurence.
Thursday
Daytime House Group, contact Jo on 07803 942 687 for more details.
Friday (Ember Day – pray for those considering or training for ordination)
Junior Choir at 6.30 pm followed by full Choir Practice at 7.30pm. Contact Derry on [email protected] if you would like to join in this term.
Advance Notice:
Lent lunches will take place in the St Laurence Room on the 11th, 19th and 26th of March, and the 2nd April. Contact Liz Van de Poll if able to help with catering.
Thank you!
For your continued prayers for my mother who remains in hospital at this time.