A Poem a Sunday

Lent I – A

March 5, 2017

Matt. 4:1-11 – NRSV

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
    and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him,

“Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

A Poem a Sunday

Lent I – A

March 5, 2017

Tempted for Good

Imagine turning stone into bread

and feeding all who are hungry.

Such a wonder could lead

to great good for all.

But instead he resisted.

Yet, in his ministry

he did feed the 5,000.

'Appear in the Temple'

- a Messianic feat,

predicted by prophets

in order to defeat

oppression and justice.

Such a wonder could lead

to great good for all.

But instead he resisted.

Yet, in his ministry

he suddenly appeared

in the Temple to cast out

the changers of money.

Reigning in partnership,

he had a choice to rule

and bring in the Kingdom;

Satan is no fool!

Such a dynamic duo

could bring good for all.

But instead he resisted.

Yet, in his ministry

he did rule

as a fool on a hill

on a cross very still

and revealed the good

for all time.

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