Tempting Times: The Lent Series

The year seems to be galloping at an alarming pace. I have barely blinked and Lent crept up on me, thief in the night styles. Luckily, as a Christo, I was aware when it was beginning – last week’s Mardi Gras worthy chow-down was testament to the fact, but I also felt that my Lenten routine of prayer and fasting needed a bit of an update. I was aware it had become a bit routine, and there is nothing that spells spiritual downturn, quite like routine-rut, as you rock up, do everything on rote, and wonder why the deep connection with your Lord and Saviour is somewhat lacking.

In the spirit (no pun intended!), of mixing it up, I decided to go super-old school and embark upon using a lectionary during Lent. Lectionaries are literally a stipulated bible reading guide that correlates with the traditional Christian calendar. This being Lent, the passages for the next 6 weeks or so are meant to get believers in the zone for Easter; a time when Jesus paid the ultimate price – his life – to save us all – and here’s the good news bit, rose on the Sunday, showing he was the gateway to life eternal.

Yesterday’s Lectionary reading from Luke’s gospel still lingers, probably because I type this in my lunch break, completely desperate to nibble on something, anything, but knowing that breaking fast is a good 4 hours away. In the passage (Luke 4:1-13), the Devil tries to tempt Jesus, who has gone alone in the wilderness, to fast, pray and prepare for the most pivotal part of his life – his ministry, death and ultimate resurrection. Seeing that he is starving, the Devil tried to convince Jesus to turn a stone into bread, Jesus replies: 

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” Luke 4:4

Next, he gives Jesus the option of being ruler of the world, an earthly ruler without compare, with all the wealth, glory and admiration that would go with it. Jesus response.

“It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Luke 4:8

And then finally, a celestial dare – that Jesus should throw himself of a high place, and wait for the Angels and Archangels to catch him before he falls. Jesus’ riposte:

“It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Luke 4:12

The common thread that Jesus used in coping with the temptations was to refer right back to scripture, and really, we should follow suit. Don’t even bother with self-analysis, or a quick power text to loved ones who might be going through their own stuff. All one needs, when the temptations gets too much is a spot of bible reading to help focus on what is not only going on, but what is at stake. ‘It is written’ and ‘It is said’ become in this passage, a call to arms against the Devil’s attempts to distract him and confuse Jesus in his primary objective, which was drawing away from the everyday to prepare for his greater, life’s mission. 

I reflect on my own spiritual journey, punctuated with periods when one was desperate for a quick fix, such as hunger be it for food or God, to other times, when patience and rage got the better of me as I sought for my goals to be achieved and I got bogged down and disheartened by the seeming lack of progress or the expected accolades for efforts made. Especially when others, maybe even Team Red propelled, positively flourished and were admired by all around. And then I considered, the putting God to the test bit; at first I thought I had never been guilty of that – I don’t have a thing for high-risk activity  - in fact I actively avoid it. But considered differently, I realized that every procrastination, excuse however substantial and ‘what’s the point’ shrug, I had ever done, was putting the Lord to the test. It was assuming you would be around for another day, week, year, decade or five, to squeeze in all the things that you know you should be doing. Call it the God given commissions, the gifts that aren’t meant to be best kept secrets – but light on a stand generation changing ones. And I realized there really was no time to waste at all. So here’s to Lent: a period of preparation for the greater things to come.