Sermon:  “Walk the Lonesome Valley”

Prayer:   “May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts and minds here together be acceptable to you, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen.”

Come on now…Really?!  Every time I hear this scripture passage that is the reaction I have.  First, the Devil is taking on perhaps the most well-prepared person in history.  If there was anyone who would be able to resist temptation and use scripture to share his faith then it would have been Jesus.  The Devil was in a lose-lose battle without realizing it.  And second, this piece of the story takes place immediately after Jesus was baptized – and if you remember it was quite the big deal: clouds breaking apart, lights shining, the Holy Spirit coming down like a dove, God’s booming voice in the heavens, “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.”  And instead of going out and hosting a luncheon for family and friends, which is much more the practice nowadays, Jesus intentionally heads out into the wilderness to fast for forty days and forty nights and ends up having quite the run in with the Devil, the Tempter, the one who tries to make a starving Jesus stray from the ways and will of God.  Some baptismal celebration! 

But here it is – the story that becomes a significant part of the reason for the season of Lent, a season to pare back what we have and what we do, to reflect on the will and way of God a bit more intentionally, and to set ourselves up for hearing God’s call to us a bit more clearly – even as we walk the road with Jesus from temptation in the wilderness, to teachings in the cities and towns, to a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and eventually to the cross.

So, let’s get back to this temptation piece of things, why don’t we?  Now officially we all know that no one knows what exactly happened in the wilderness during those days.  It says that Jesus went there alone, so unless there was a pack of spies who followed him “007 style”, what we have here could be a bit of the story that Jesus was willing to tell when he came back to settle in Capernaum, and a bit of speculation on the part of the gospel writer – relying heavily on the biggest temptations that would have led Jesus to stray from the greatest commandment written in Deuteronomy.  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your  might.”  We remember distinctly in these days of Lent that Jesus was not a Christian but an observant, faithful, and learned Jewish man. 

The first temptation – to turn stones into bread – one might think would have been the hardest for Jesus to turn away having been fasting for 40 days, after all if you are like me you get hungry after 4 hours, but Jesus does turn it down.  And in doing so he shows that it is not his way to rebel against the divine will – that the word of God is his nourishment and foundation.  The second temptation – to jump down from the heights in order to be saved by angels – perhaps would have gotten a man of greater curiosity.  After all, you can imagine someone thinking, could it really be true?  Could this guy really save me?  But in order for Jesus to do so would have meant unnecessarily testing God’s care by risking his life, and if there was one thing Jesus trusted, it was God’s care for him.  The final temptation – to have all the wealth, power, and material possessions he could imagine – well, this could have made any one of us stumble, I would imagine.  But Jesus shows that much more preferable to all of the wealth and power in the world (with which comes much responsibility and the potential for much trouble) is the love of God. 

Now, the biggest temptation that lurked in all of these was the temptation to get easy answers, easy things, instead of relying on the foundation of God’s love, strength, and the guidance of God’s will.  After all, no one said that the road will always be easy, but rather that if we are able to focus on the journey and perhaps take a walking companion or two then we will be able to work our way through it.

Isn’t it tempting though?  Isn’t it tempting to have the easy answers laid out in front of us for the taking?  I unfortunately know all too well that sometimes when we choose to take the easiest answer, to take the easiest road, it usually doesn’t turn out all that easy.  I have had relationships hurt by doing this and have had to live with the knowledge of having hurt people that I care deeply about.  I have seen young people who after doing something like cheating, which seemed like the easy answer, end up hurting their academic career, not to mention the toll that it takes on them, their teachers, their parents, and the trust that has been broken.  We all have seen in the news recently adults who have tried to take the easy way by doing things like scamming investors and end up the talk of the town, even in prison – ruining their careers, their relationships, and their reputations.  It seems that the easy way is not always the best way.

We know that there are certainly temptations in our lives, and it is fitting that this story – whether in Matthew’s gospel, or the gospels of Mark & Luke – begins the season of Lent for us each year.  Because Lent is the time when we reflect on the past, focus on what is hidden or underground ready to blossom, clear away the debris from the space where new life will grow by repenting and opening ourselves to receive forgiveness, and then watch what comes of the process.  Lent happens during springtime – the time when we see this same process take place in nature – and what miracles seem to abound.

This Lent Pastor Bryn and I have invited you to share the journey with one another, focusing on our Vision for this year – “Make Jesus Your Mentor: Share.”  Because even though Jesus was perhaps strong enough to go it alone in the wilderness, most of us are not – nor is it really the better way to be in our tough and often complicated lives.  Even Jesus comes out of the wilderness testing, and one of the first things he does is seeks out the disciples to very literally and figuratively walk with him on his journey.  Well, as this Lent begins we have invited people from our congregation to share a part of their journeys with us during our Lenten Lunches and some during worship – the ways that they have had the joy and the comfort of having others walk the journey with them. 

Today I have the privilege and honor to share the first of those Lenten “Sharing the Journey” testimonies.  It is not my own but rather that of Dom Barillari, the Chair of our Church Growth Committee, who has been struggling with a difficult piece of his own journey, having been diagnosed with Cancer this past year.  I thank Dom for letting me share his message with you and hope that it will help to inspire you to reflect on who it is who shares the journey of faith and life most closely with you, and who it is that you are a source of strength and comfort to as well.  Dom says this:

"Somehow in the mid-1970s I lost sight of Church, and I guess you could probably say the religious foundation that I grew up with, Catholicism. You know, when you're in your 20s, you know everything and somehow religion just doesn't fit. By the time I was 50, I started feeling something was missing. But even then, work was in the way."

"About 10 years ago, I met a young lady on line, you know one of those dating services that don't work. Well, this time it did. We dated and lived together for about 7 years and decided that this would probably work, so we were married about 2 1/2 years ago. In those 9 1/2 years, her Family grew to be my Family, and mine became hers. Her Church became my Church and her Family at Church became mine. She had wanted to find someone who would not only share his life with her, but also her Church. I became that person."

"The more I saw of the Congregational Church of Brookfield and its fellowship, the more I felt I needed to belong. Every step of the way, I found reasons why I should become a member. Through a couple of tough surgeries, I awoke and found always someone from our Church sitting next to my wife waiting for me to wake. Usually, that person was Harry Gerowe, truly a God-send, and comforting in every sense of the word. How could I not make this my Church?  The prayer lists I found my name on, and with that many people caring so much that they were praying for me, it was very easy to find myself as a part of this Church Family. To find a group of people who will greet you with a genuine smile and “hello” and wish you well, even if they don't really know you, is so hard to find. So joining was an easy step for me. You were already there for me, sharing my journey."

"Trying to give back and share myself became the hardest part. Being part of a Church that has the congregation's best interests in mind seemed to me to be unique. I started to understand better how finding fellowship and friendship and a lighted pathway to our Lord was what the Congregational Church of Brookfield was all about. It started to be more about the people in front of me and behind me who somehow knew my name and never failed to speak a prayer aloud for someone in need.  It started to be more about the people who go to the early service who I never saw, but we were still sharing the journey."

"Being diagnosed with Cancer had a strange and sobering effect on me. I learned that from the moment you hear you have Cancer, nothing will ever be the same. There won't be anything known as normal.  However, when you have a wonderful support system, as I have, things are a little better. My wife has been instrumental in my facing this Cancer. With a tremendous group of friends, Family, and Church Family, I am able to meet this disease on some of my own terms and understand what it means to me."

"When I think about what it means to “Share the Journey,”  it's all about that guy named Mike Anastas.  He managed to drive me to 12, 5-hour chemo sessions to keep me company, and to help make sure that my Cancer didn't get the best of me. It's a matter of sharing this burden with others in an attempt to lessen your own load. Mike has made it so much easier to deal with what started out as a very simple issue and now has become somewhat difficult. Sharing is so important."

"When I enter Church on Sundays, I am amazed at how many show their concern for me. I often get cards in the mail from my Church Family, letting me know that they're thinking about me. You can't imagine what that does for someone. My Church Growth Committee is a source of strength for me too."

"Our pastors head a very caring Church. Don't be afraid or ashamed to share what bothers you.  It will help reduce its hold on you. YOUR PROBLEM MAY BE YOURS, BUT IT BELONGS TO EVERYONE WHO CARES.  Sharing both the hardships and the joys of your journey is all part of being a Church Family."

So, my friends, with Dom’s words in our minds as we begin this Lenten journey and with the example of Jesus, might we just be willing to turn away the Tempter.  Might we just be willing to focus a bit more on that commandment to love God with our heart, soul, and might – and love our neighbor as ourself – even walking with them on the journey.  Might we just be willing to give thanks to God for those who share the journey with us in the good times and the tough times.  And might we just be willing to walk this Lenten journey in faith and hope – keeping our sights set on God’s will and God’s way, and trusting in God’s love for us, so that we might be an example to others – that they might want a little of what we got as Christian folks and as brothers and sisters in Christ here at the Congregational Church of Brookfield.  Peace and blessings be to all of us as we take this next step on our journey.  Amen.

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Matthew 4

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also 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 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.