Temptations in the Desert: Are We There Yet?

One of our fun Presbyterian energizers* includes the refrain: “Are we there yet? I gotta go! He’s touching me – she touched me first!” Anyone who has been on a long car ride with children (and some adults) are all too familiar with those phrases. “Are we there yet?” is a cry of frustration, a cry of being dependent on someone else to get us where we are going, a cry of being not in control of the situation. 

Read Psalm 27 and Luke 13:31-35.

We don’t often read about the Pharisees being on Jesus’ side, yet here they are, purportedly trying to ‘help’ him by suggesting that he remove himself from Herod’s reach, to leave his work behind and to save his life. The Pharisees, probably in conversation with Herod, are trying to regain control of the people, of the situation, by removing this troublemaker Jesus – this troublemaker who lifts up the poor and the outcast, who heals the sick and talks about another kingdom.

The Pharisees fall into the temptation of the illusion of control. Instead of being strong, being courageous, and waiting on the Lord, they try to manipulate Jesus, believing they can control his actions. How often do we act as the Pharisees, desperately clawing at the illusion of control? How often are we tempted to bargain with Jesus, believing we can control or limit His presence and His actions?

Jesus, however, does not fear the Pharisees because He knows the Lord is His light and His salvation. Jesus is not swayed from the path to Jerusalem, the path to the cross, his divinely appointed mission. Jesus says ‘no’ to the temptation of the easy way out, escaping with his life intact.

Over and over again, we fall prey to the temptation that we are in control, that we can fix things on our own, that we can face our enemies without God’s help. Over and over again, we cry out “Are we there yet?”, a cry of frustration that God’s time is not our time, that waiting in the Lord requires…waiting.

But our mother hen wants to gather us all together again – Jesus does not see Jerusalem or us as past salvation. Rather than a call for judgment, Jesus calls out to Jerusalem and to us to repent, to return to the LORD our God. The Gospel of Luke over and over again shows who is welcome in the mother hen’s house – shepherds, prodigal sons, Good Samaritans, peasant girls who sing songs of salvation, you, and me. So let us run to our mother hen – let us be embraced by the wings of salvation, for the Lord is our light – whom shall we fear?

Grace and peace,
Pastor Kate

*Energizers are fun coordinated dances set to popular music, often used to help ‘energize’ teenagers in the mornings at camps or conferences.

Temptations in the Desert: Believing Lies

The Devil has been portrayed in different ways, but oftentimes the image of the traditional red horned creature with a pitchfork or a slithering serpent pops into our heads. Is that what the Devil looks like in your life? Is evil and temptation easy to identify, something that looks and acts very different from us?

Read Psalm 91:1-2,9-16 and Luke 4:1-13.

I wonder what the Devil looked like to Jesus. Did he look more like Peter Cook in the 1967 film Bedazzled – or Elizabeth Hurley in the 2000 remake? Or was the entire conversation between the Devil and Jesus inside Jesus' head?

Peter Cook as The Devil

If we’re honest, we know that temptation always doesn’t appear in easily recognizable forms. In fact, we make excuses and believe the little lies – that this small act is really for the greater good. Isn’t that the exact rationale that the Devil uses with Jesus? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if Jesus had accepted the power over all the kingdoms, or if Jesus had fed himself, or if Jesus had tested God and confirmed how much God loves him and cares for him? Those don’t seem like bad things.

Yet because of who was offering them, Jesus refused. In the midst of his desert time, Jesus couldn’t say yes. But we know in the end, through God’s way instead of the Devil’s way, Jesus did feed the hungry; Jesus does rule the world with justice; and Jesus serves God faithfully. Through God’s way, Jesus invites and expects us to participate in the feeding, the ruling, and the serving. Through God’s way, we are offered an oasis in the midst of the desert of life. Through God’s way, we are offered Living Water for our parched throats and hearts. Through God’s way, we are able to be an oasis for each other as we face our own temptations, as we fight the temptation to believe lies.

So join us as we travel this Lenten journey together, unpacking and facing together our “Temptations in the Desert.”

Grace and peace,
Pastor Kate

Topeka and Trinity Transfigured

Thinking of my own mountaintop experiences makes me think of Chapel at the Cross atop the highest hill at Mo Ranch, TX - an arduous climb up a slippery pebbled road, breathing asthmatic breaths long before reaching the top.  Upon approach I first see the outdoor amphitheater with graduated stone semi circular seating and geckos running around.  The spectacular view across the valley far below with the Guadalupe River winding through is punctuated by the gigantic wooden cross at the base of the fish-shaped chancel.  The cross reaches toward the heavens and eagles and hawks circle around flying at eye level. The communion table is hill country stone.  The "ruah" breath of the wind never ceases.  It is a numinous place where people gather expecting God's presence.  It is a place which embraces me and holds me holy and sacred.

In my imagination, here is where Peter, James, and John gather with Jesus (Luke 9: 28-36).  With Jesus  transcendent in dazzling white, almost too glorious to behold and with the appearance of mighty Old Testament prophets, Moses and Elijah, the disciples are enveloped by the clouds.  Perhaps the climb wore them out to account for their sleepiness and their lack of understanding about Jesus' coming death in Jerusalem.  But Peter, James, and John are aware enough of the exceptional circumstances that they want to hold onto such glory, offering to build booths so they could stay atop the mountain.

But mountaintop experiences serve to inspire, motivate, encourage, and provide sustenance for the rest of life's journey in the valleys of our every day-ness.  This transfiguration of Jesus is the prelude and foundation for what lies ahead for the disciples and all Christ followers.  For we must all come down the mountain to face our challenges. When we come down the mountain, we confront the challenges of suffering and sorrow; illness and disease; temptations and terrors.  The Transfiguration is incomplete without the rest of the story (Luke 9: 37-43a).  For in the valley Jesus encounters a desperate father seeking healing for his young epileptic son, whose seizures the disciples cannot heal.  "And all were astounded at the greatness of God" (Luke 9: 43a).

The great glory of God in Jesus transfigured cannot be separated from the needs of the world.  Life is whole when we can be astonished and astounded as we hear God's voice affirming "This is my Son!"  God commands us to "Listen to him."  In believing that Jesus is God's Son and in listening to Jesus, we can move from powerless disciples to Christ followers who seize opportunities to heal the world one act at a time, one day at a time, and in response to the cries of the world.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley