Who knows ya?
Expansion, transformation, temptations & the basics.
Lent 1C - Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13
In Matthew, Mark and Luke, the demons always know Jesus. The disciples, the crowds, the religious authorities and Jesus’ family are clueless, but the demons can spot “the Son of God” a mile away.1
Our demons know us too. When we are hungry, they know what we yearn for, and they offer to get it. Easy. When we are angry, lonely or tired, they know why, and they offer to fix it. Easy. That is temptation.
One of my takeaways from this Sunday’s readings is that when temptation shows up, we don’t need to out-argue the demons, point out the fallacies or disprove the lies. We just need to remember the basics: who we are and what we are about.2
Before Jesus went out to the desert, he heard a heavenly voice call him “my Son, the Beloved.3” It’s not just the demons who know Jesus. My other takeaway is that it isn’t only the demons who know us either.
Lent is an invitation to consider that there is a larger dimension to our life than we are living. The process of expansion or transformation is not always easy. There will be new circumstances, people and feelings. There will be interesting possibilities and maybe some terrible ideas. Inevitably, there will be demons who know us oh so well and who know just when to show up with a temptation. That won’t be a sign of failure. It will be a sign that we are changing and growing. All good.
If and when it happens, it will help if we can remember the basics, and that it’s not only the demons who know us.
Peace.
PS: “Who loves ya baby?” said Kojak.
Not my insight. I just finished When Did Jesus Become God?, Westminster John Knox Press, (Louisville, Kentucky 2022.) It is a debate between New Testament scholars Bart Ehrman and Michael Bird. It’s short and a pleasure to read. The answer to the question in the title is — It depends on who you ask: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Tertullian, Arius… etc.
Jesus’ basics were “One does not live by bread alone” (Deut. 8:3), “Serve only the Lord your God” (Deut. 6:13), and “do not put God to the test.” (Deut. 6:16) Very basic basics. They worked.
Luke 3:22
Thank God it’s not just the demons who know Jesus - or us. And thank God for people like Lily who has the gift and the skills to remind us.
Great reminder! When things get tough, keep our eyes on the path, and our one step at a time, one foot before the other…. Who we are and who loves us. Thank you!