Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, and The Rev. Mary Ann Hill. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By Deacon Amy Schmuck
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church

By the time this column is online and printed, the season of Lent has begun for Christian denominations. This is a time set aside in our spiritual lives for contemplation, for repentance, for renewal, and for return to God. The 40 days (plus Sundays) include additional worship services, prayer opportunities, calls to fast and to give alms or do acts of service. These 40 days began last Wednesday with the imposition of ashes on our foreheads and reminders of our mortality.

On the first Sunday of Lent every year, we “kick off” this time with the Gospel reading (either Matthew or Luke depending on the lectionary year) about Jesus being thrust into the wilderness by the spirit right after his baptism and the declaration from God that “This is my son, the beloved in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt.3:16-4:10)

For 40 days, God’s Son fasted in the stark wilderness landscape. He had no food, water, shelter, or human companionship. Jesus was “famished”, and that was when the devil visited with temptation for Jesus to end his suffering by challenging his identity with the words, “IF you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread”. Jesus of course ignores him and slings scripture at him about living not by bread but the Word of God.  No chance evil one!

The devil whisks him to the top of the temple and tempts Jesus to throw himself down to test God’s love for him because surely God would send his angels to save him. Such a display would then speed up the revelation to the world of who Jesus is. Instant fame! Instant validation! Jesus rebuffs this with scripture – the commandment to not put the Lord God to the test.

Finally, the devil took Jesus to the top of a mountain, showed him all the Roman Empire, and offered it to him if he denied God and served the devil. Jesus rejects and sends the devil packing. He fully rejects the world’s version of power and embraces the power of God’s kingdom of LOVE rather than the devil’s territory of an oppressive Roman Empire.

So we Christians enter our version of Jesus’ 40 days into our “little wilderness” experience. We practice our spiritual wellness with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to intentionally return to our God and God’s upside down kingdom of mercy, grace and love. We try to turn away from the devil’s usual temptations of “taking the easy way” out of our problems, or saying yes to systems of power that feed our egos – feeding our desire to be known and to feel powerful or in control.

We must keep in mind that Jesus’ rejections of the devil’s temptations were fully human like us and fully divine – from God. This is not necessarily an example for us to attempt to follow, but rather a reminder that without Jesus, we are stuck in the cycle of misery and sin without hope.

Jesus dismissed the devil and his lies for us, and we can keep trying, failing, and repenting over and over and over again. We will always be met with the grace filled embrace to come home to God, to return to God, to delight in God.

As always, the writers of this column invite you to join us for Sunday worship at the local churches we serve, join us for the ecumenical Lent Soup Suppers at 6 p.m. Thursdays at Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church starting this week for a meal, some education opportunities, and a simple worship mid-week. Some of us are also holding extra prayer services during the weeks between Sundays. We don’t have to be in our “little wilderness” alone like Jesus. We have one another to support and care for along the way. May your Lenten journey be richly blessed, and may God bless your return. Amen.

Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy, including The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com); Deacon Amy Schmuck, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (deaconamy@bethluth.com); and ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com).