Father Gary’s Sermon

Inspired from Matthew 4:1-11

Proclaimed on February 13, 2005

Within a certain family there were four children. One day they called a family meeting, begging their mother to allow them to get a puppy. Of course, she protested this request. Her explanation was that she would end up having to feed the dog, bathing and grooming it, insuring it got plenty of exercise, as well as training it. The children agreed that they would gladly take on these responsibilities if she allowed them to have a dog of their own. The mother consented. They named their new puppy Danny.

As time went by, however, the mother’s worst fears became reality. When it became obvious that she was now fully responsible for Danny, she called a family meeting. She informed the children that Danny had to go. He was just too messy, too demanding, and was eating them out of house and home. The reaction of the children was surprisingly mild. Indeed, they calmly commented that he would be missed, but agreed that he was just too much work for one person. The mother then stated that she would put an ad in the local paper for a new home for Danny. Suddenly, the oldest child exclaimed, “Oh! You said ‘Danny!’ We thought you said ‘Daddy!’”

As in this little story, the Gospel is likewise about accountability. Recently baptized, Jesus was now the new Messiah. His first official act was to be driven out into the wilderness to be tempted. Now when we think of the word temptation we normally equate it with some sort of enticement to do something wrong or a seduction into some sort of evil. However, this is not what the original word in the Greek language connotes. Rather it means some sort of testing, much like a metal smith will test newly struck metal to check for its ability to handle stress and strain. Understood in this manner, temptation takes on a more useful purpose. As stated by William Barclay, “What we call temptation is not meant to make us sin; it is meant to enable us to conquer sin. It is not meant to make us bad, it is meant to make us good. It is not meant to weaken us, it is meant to make us emerge stronger and finer and purer from the ordeal. Temptation is not the penalty of being human; temptation is the glory of personhood. It is the test which comes to a person whom God wishes to use.”

As applied to Jesus, the Wilderness experience birthed a new Messiah. Jesus passed the test. Jesus proved his accountability. Jesus remained accountable to God alone. Jesus was now ready to be put to good use.

How does this now apply to us on this the first Sunday of Lent? In our baptisms and confirmations we are like the little children asking their mother for a new puppy. Instead of a puppy, however, we are standing before God asking for the Kingdom. Like the children, we are also making promises to be accountable. Along the way God begins to test us to see how usable we may be.

The season of Lent, however, is that time of the year when we are like the little children being called by the mother for another family meeting. Like the children’s mother, God is calling us to task. How well have we tended to the Kingdom? How much of the Kingdom will we be entrusted?

When the mother first confronted the children, they did not fully comprehend what she was saying. The question now before us is how well will we listen to what God is saying? While we may deny any ability to hear God, the Gospel will not excuse us.

During this Lent may we truly hear our Lord and obey. May we be found accountable. May we become useful for the work of the Kingdom of God.