[Propertalk] Fwd: Part 2 of 2 - Sermon for Lent 1C

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-------- Original message --------
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> 
Date:02/13/2016  10:49 PM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org> 
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 1C 

Dear Friends,

 

This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Yield Not to Temptation” or “The Devil Made Me Do It!” and deals with the gospel (Luke 9: 28- 36).  Here it is:  

 

(Part 2 of 2)

Question- how can you know if that still, small voice in your head is God’s- encouraging happiness and life, or the devil’s encouraging unhappiness and death?  Use Jesus’ experience to help you figure it out.

From the “stones into bread” temptation, ask yourself: “What’s in it for me?”  The essence of the demonic is self-centeredness.  Remember, the devil tempted Jesus to misuse his powers and turn stones into bread FOR HIMSELF.  Don’t let the devil succeed in tempting you to use your powers and skills selfishly.

From the “throw yourself from the top of the temple” temptation, ask yourself: Am I taking the easy way, a short cut, a “quick-fix”?  Remember, the devil tempted Jesus to throw himself off the top of the temple as a short-cut means to gain popularity and attention.

From the “fall down and worship me” temptation, ask yourself: Am I being tempted to use an evil means and hoping to get a good end, like when the devil suggested that Jesus worship him to gain the power he needed to do good?

Finally, did you notice how the first and third temptations started: “If you are God’s son…..”?  Is that voice inspiring self-doubt, discouragement, depression?

 

If the answer to any of these is unsatisfactory, just say “NO!  Get thee behind me Satan!

 

Speaking of “Get thee behind me, Satan,” I’d like to close with an old story that perfectly fits the beginning of Lent.  Watch for the mistakes the woman makes.  Did you hear about the woman who just loved to shop?  The problem was- both of their credit cards were maxed out, and she had promised her husband that she would not buy anything that was not absolutely necessary.  Well, Lent came soon after she made the promise, and her Lenten commitment was that she would exercise every day.  Since it was pouring rain, she couldn’t walk outside; so she decided to go to the mall to walk and get her exercise.  “Don’t worry, dear,” she told her husband before leaving.  “I won’t buy anything- I promise you.”  Her walk in the mall started out just fine, but then, as she strode past one of her favorite stores, she saw this beautiful dress in the window.  You know what she did- stopped walking to look at it.  She noticed that it was in her favorite color and would match the shoes she purchased the week before.  “It won’t hurt if I just go in the store to look.  They probably won’t have my size anyway.”  When she checked out the rack, there was that gorgeous dress; and it was in her perfect color and correct size.  “Wow!” she thought.  “It won’t hurt to just try it on.  Trying it on is not the same thing as buying it.”  You know what she did- took it into the dressing room to try it on.  After it was on, she looked at her image in the mirror, and she really did look good.  All of a sudden, she came to her senses and remembered her promise to her husband.  “Get the behind me, Satan!” she ordered.  “I’m not buying this dress!”  From behind her came a soft voice that said- “Gee, that’s a shame.  It looks really good back here too!”

 

May God bless us as we keep a holy Lent full of life-giving spiritual growth.

 

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .

 

Blessed preaching,

Judy Boli

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Saginaw, Michigan

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