Sunday, February 10, 2008

Today's readings

I alway wonder how the "health and wealth" type of preachers would deal with today's Gospel?

Jesus' refusal to turn stones into bread flies right in the face of the whole "name it, claim it" philosophy. Man does not live on dough ($ or otherwise) but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Then there is the not putting the Lord, your God, to the test. Ironic that Satan quotes scripture here to justify his position. How easy it is to use a verse out of context to justify whatever we desire.

But the last temptation is the most difficult to harmonize with the popular feel good idea of being Christian means being a worldly success. "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”

Worldly success can bear a high price.

It is also tied together nicely today with the juxtaposition of the fall of Adam versus the triumph of Jesus over the Tempter. Adam was in a beautiful garden surrounded by the best of foods. He failed to be obedient even with everything going in his favor. Yet Jesus had fasted for 40 day in a desert, surrounded by heat and barren lands. But when he was tempted, he drew his strength from scripture. Not with a phony proof text to get what he wanted, but with actual context to do the will of the Father.

2 comments:

Bear said...

Slightly off topic, but the story of Adam always leaves me a little cheesed. Here was God's great plan for humanity: He wanted us to go around, naked, with our spouse, tend garden and eat fruit- and they mess it up. Thanks to them, I got to work like a dog and wear clothes. sheesh.

KaleJ said...

Yeah, I agree there. I humorously remind my wife about it all being Eve's fault during pregnancy or when we reminisce about childbirth.