RoboPreacher

if we meant it / if we tried A sermon from Jesus' temptation; Matthew 4:1-17 There’s so much to say about the temptations, but to begin I want to talk about superhero movies… My problem with most superhero movies is that the stakes are so darn high , I CAN’T relate. I mean, I have no idea what it’s like to carry the fate of the world! … I can barely carry the weight of my own fate! So I’ve got to confess, after witnessing Jesus’ tete-a-tete with the devil; I feel a little similar to the way I do after leaving an Avengers movie… Yes, like the rest of you, I am no stranger to the devil’s wiles. But, not on as large of a scale! My temptations are smaller , and so are the stakes … I mean, movies have been made about Jesus’ temptations! Has that happened to anyone here? …Yeah, me neither . So as we watch Jesus and the devil face-off, there seems to be this great chasm between us and the action… It’s worth nothing, though, that our scripture begins ...

as the darkness clears away The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke! Before Jesus begins his ministry he heads out ; to the wilderness. Alone with only the elements and animals, he prepares himself for the trials and tribulations he will face in his ministry. He doesn’t eat during those days. After the 40th day, the devil shows up and tries to derail the whole thing… Lent, if you don’t count Sundays, is approximately 40 days. Over the ages The Church has found it wise to do like Jesus, to set apart a tenth of each year’s days for some holy use.  And like Jesus, the devil seems to be especially on the prowl during these 40 days… “What’s another cookie?” whispers the devil. “No one will know. You’ve been good all week. You deserve that cookie.” Or ,  you miss the nail and strike your thumb instead. This time the devil doesn’t whisper. He comes in a fiery rage. “Say it! Ooooohhhh that looks like it hurt. Just say it, say that word you gave up....