We find Jesus this morning,

having just ducked out of the temple,

 narrowly escaping a stoning by some angry Jews

      who have taken offense at his claim to be the Son of Man….

Activist Shane Claiborne says,

“Violence is contagious.

“Violence begets violence. …”

“A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake shakes parts of Malaysia.” 

“11 million under flood watch as storms bring heavy rain and snow to California.” 

“UN warns millions in Somalia face malnutrition and starvation.” 

“Ukraine remembers its dead as war enters a fifth year.” 

These were some of our recent news headlines….

We all face temptations…
            all the time!

 But how do we handle them?

 That is the question.

Paul says to the Church at Corinth:
            “Be reconciled to God.”

 That seems to me the theme of Lent: reconciliation….

“Arrive with no plan….”

When Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount,
           he continues addressing the disciples saying:

 “You are the salt of the earth…

“You are the light of the world….”

Given Jesus’ clarity on the matter,
            perhaps we should spend a little time fleshing that out….

This week I read a blog post by Lutheran pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber.

 A woman named Kathryn had written her:
           “Dear Nadia, I am struggling with the world’s weight….”

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

 This morning we hear these words in both Isaiah and our Gospel reading….

Light has shined on those who live in deep darkness!…

"What are you looking for?"

In John’s Gospel, these are the very first words out of Jesus’ mouth.

“What are you looking for?….”

John the Baptist spent his adult life preparing the way for Jesus. 

He spent his own ministry pointing beyond himself to Jesus.

 He tells the crowds:
“I baptize you with water for repentance,
                      but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;        I am not worthy to carry his sandals…..”  (Mt 3:11)

“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?” 

What a curious question to come from a group of star-gazers from far away Persia!

And what an irritant to King Herod’s quest for unabated power!….

Our God is a God of speaking.

Our God is a God who wants desperately to have a conversation with us.

In the beginning God spoke the heavens and the earth into existence. . ..

This evening, we gather together to celebrate something spectacular…

            something that seems a bit far-fetched if applying only our rational minds…

      yet something we proclaim every time we gather for worship….

I wonder how often each of us feels like we are wandering in the wilderness?

As I think about our Old Testament scriptures, it seems like God’s people are frequently wandering in the wilderness or the desert…

When I first read today’s Scriptures passages, I was struck by the beautiful and peace-able imagery of Isaiah…

“About that day and hour no one knows,

            neither the angels of heaven,

nor the Son,

        but only the Father….”

“Do not be afraid, little flock.”

 Do not be afraid.

 Easier said
           than done.

 It seems, these days, that fear is all around….

“One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions,”
Jesus says in today’s gospel story.

 Jesus has been hammering home this truth,
turning the Pharisees and lawyers against him,
    because he says they are tithing commodities
while neglecting justice and love….

As Jesus and his disciples continue on their journey to Jerusalem,
            Jesus takes some time to pray.

 This time he is allowed to finish before someone asks something of him….