These works of healing, liberation and redemption are meant to be held onto not as possible, but potentially unlikely effects of Jesus’ work of redemption in our lives; rather they are the certain end to which he desires to lead all of humanity, indeed all of creation. Everything he has done in his life, death, resurrection and pouring out of his Spirit, and everything he continues to do in us and for us is oriented toward that end; and its certain attainment is meant to be buoy of hope in the midst of life’s storms and struggles (particularly when there seems to be no end in sight), for as St Paul tells his readers confidently “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6, emphasis added)

[I]t is important to note that this type of testing is not at all the same thing as struggling to trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness in the midst of darkness or difficulty. The Bible (particularly the psalms) is full of examples of faithful people crying out to the Lord as they try to reconcile their pain or suffering with what they’ve been told about God’s character (my personal favorite is in Lamentations 3). The difference is that, in doing so, they do not judge him a liar or unfaithful, though they may struggle with fears that this is true at times; rather they struggle to hold on, reminding themselves of his promises and calling to mind his past acts of faithfulness in their lives so that these might be a buoy of hope in the midst of the storm. Far from a lack of faith or testing to God, they ultimately witness to a depth of faith that is both exemplary and beautiful.

“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “to you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship(…)

Bread is such a minor thing, particularly for the one in whom all things were created. But Jesus’ resistance to Satan in this apparently minor detail demonstrates the most important aspect of his mission: his unwavering surrender and trust in the Father—to surrender so wholly to his will and his purpose, that he would not leave the wilderness until led by the Spirit to do so, nor would he abuse his divine gifts to make bread for himself by his own power.

What are the apparently “minor”—or perhaps even major—areas in your life in which the Father is calling you to surrender to his will and purpose?

And here is where we see it all begin to come together for our purposes today. There is a sense in which we are all sons and daughters of God, for we are not only made by him, but also made in his image and likeness. This is suggested by Luke’s genealogy and it is good and right to affirm this. However, because we are made in God’s image and likeness, we are also made for a deeper, richer sonship (and daughter-ship) that cannot be a simple fact of nature, nor can it be obtained by our own efforts. It must be obtained through the unmerited gift of grace, by uniting ourselves to Christ and being baptized in to his uncompromising obedience to God manifested in his life, death and resurrection.

Without this, there is no “best life now”, no true fulfillment. But with it there is life abundant, there is life eternal.

Throughout the ages, the forty days of Lent have been a season of focused and intentional devotion. Often those devotions have been centered on Jesus’ own forty day sojourn in the wilderness just after his baptism and before his ministry. Would you join us this year as we offer five meditations, one each Monday in Lent, taken from Luke’s account of the baptism, temptation, and beginning ministry of Jesus (Luke 3:21-23,36b-38, 4:1-21)? I am confident that, if you do, you will gain real insight into you own life, your own ministry, and your own challenges to live out your calling. As Kathleen has written:

“The same Spirit that declared his Sonship at baptism and then drove him into the wilderness for testing is the same Spirit that drove him to Galilee and anointed him for this ministry of healing, liberation, and redemption. And it is the same Spirit that we, ourselves, receive at Baptism when, in Christ, we too are made into sons and daughters of God.”

Wherefore He became flesh, so that He Whom heaven did not contain, a manger would this day receive. He was placed in a manger, so that He, by whom all things arc nourished, may receive an infant’s food from His Virgin Mother. So, the Father of all ages, as an infant at the breast, nestles in the virginal arms, that the Magi may more easily see Him. Since this day the Magi too have come, and made a beginning of withstanding tyranny; and the heavens give glory, as the Lord is revealed by a star.

To Him, then, Who out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Ghost, we offer all praise, now and for ever. Amen.