1 Lent, Year A

Genesis 2: 15 – 17; 3: 1 – 7
Psalm 32
Romans 5: 12 – 19
Matthew 4: 1 – 11

A homily by: Fr. Gene Tucker, given at: Trinity Church, Mt. Vernon, Illinois on Sunday, March 13, 2011

“NEWS REPORT”

(Homily texts: Genesis 2: 15 – 17; 3: 1 – 7 & Matthew 4: 1 – 11)
(This homily is written as if it was a televised news report.)

(Television news anchor) “And now, we go to our correspondent, who reports to us on location in Mt. Vernon, Illinois….”

(News Reporter – AKA your preacher) Good morning from Mt. Vernon, Illinois. I am here with a group of worshippers at Trinity Episcopal Church. They are gathered on what Christians the world over call “The First Sunday in Lent”. Traditionally – in times past - the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday was a time of sorrow, darkness and mourning. However, those you see behind me have received reports from two correspondents – Moses and Matthew - which have caused alarm, but also rejoicing. So it might be fair to say that – in the 21st century at least – perhaps Lent’s traditional gloominess is giving way to another sense about this season, which is so holy to Christians around the globe.

Before we hear from our correspondents this morning, we ought to join with the members of Trinity to consider the theme that is before them today.

Their opening prayer is something called the “Great Litany”. For Anglicans such as those gathered here at Trinity, this ancient prayer, which first appeared in 1543, and which is the oldest part of Anglican Prayer Books around the world written in English, asks God to deliver Christians from “the crafts and assaults of the devil.”

Indeed, this is the theme of the day. The “Collect of the Day”, sort of a theme-setter for the theme of the day, captures the sense of the day’s focus very well. The two reports convey and failure, and then a victory, in the struggle against the “crafts and assaults of the devil.” The first report heard this morning came from the ancient prophet Moses, who recounted the failures of Adam and Eve as they fell victim to the “crafts and assaults of the devil.”

Moses, writing in his book called Genesis, recounted how the evil one came in the form of a serpent to tempt the two. Moses reported that the serpent was “more subtle” than any other creature. He went on to say that the serpent tried to sow doubt about God’s instructions when Eve was approached, saying, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?”

Moses seems to want Trinity’s listeners to know that it was through an appeal to the senses, our most basic human needs and wants, that the serpent used as his approach. Moses reports that when Eve considered the serpent’s suggestion that she eat of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, she saw that its fruit was “good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desired to make one wise,” she ate of the fruit, and then gave some to her husband, Adam.

Worshippers here at Trinity also noticed in Moses’ report that the serpent seems to have used an old scheme called “Divide and conquer”. It looks as though the serpent succeeded in separating Eve from Adam. Moses’ account seems to suggest that Adam was standing there, right beside his wife, but said nothing!

I could see on the faces of those gathered here this morning the dismay that Moses’ report caused. Perhaps it’s because – as they reflected back on human history - that history is filled with stories like the one that Moses’ report reported….human failure in the face of temptation.

But, I am happy to report, that Moses’ report was not the only one received this morning.

Our correspondent Matthew also filed a report with Trinity congregation.

I am happy to say that Matthew’s report is filled with hope.

Matthew reports that Jesus went into the Wilderness (some suggest that it was in a desolate area north and west of the city of Jericho), and there, He was tempted in a very similar way to the approach used on Adam and Eve.

Matthew says that the devil approached Jesus, and appealed to his need for food. Now, mind you, Matthew had already told us that Jesus had not eaten for a very long time. It seems like the devil knew just the right appeal to make.

Oddly enough, the devil’s appeal is very much like the appeal made to Eve….an appeal to food.

Trinity’s worshippers are noticing a pattern here. The pattern reminds them of the old Greek legend of the Trojan Horse!

Sure! Make something appealing, and present it to the people. That’s exactly what the story of the Trojan Horse is all about: Present an attractive gift to people, but – only when it’s too late – show them that the “gift” was nothing of the kind…it was meant to trick them and to be used against them.

Well, there’s encouragement in Matthew’s report, for Matthew tells us that Jesus doesn’t fall for any of the devil’s schemes….Not an appeal to food, nor an appeal to personal safety, nor an appeal to power and control, trick Jesus into falling for the trap that the devil had set that day in the Wilderness.

Trinity’s people’s faces sure lightened up when they heard Matthew’s report.

You could just see it in their faces. It was as if they seemed to be saying to each other, “If Jesus can overcome the tricks of the devil, then so can we, with His help.”

May be this Lenten season will be one which is filled with victory for Trinity’s people, after all. They sure seemed to be excited about claiming the same victory that Jesus did.

“Reporting live from the scene here in Mt. Vernon, now, back to you in the studio.”