Opening liturgy
We don’t need the distractions, of a glitzy package, a brown paper bag does just fine.
Give us this day our daily bread to feed our soul.
To nourish our minds and warm our hearts, to enrich our faith, our belief, our life…
Give us this day our daily bread to feed our soul.
Let us never forget you are our God, the giver of love and joy and hope. O Lord our God, on this Lenten journey, feed our souls this day we pray.
Hymn StF 317
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every tongue confess him King of Glory now. Tis the Fathers’ pleasure, we should call him Lord, who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
Humbled for a season, to receive a name from the lips of sinners unto whom he came, faithfully he bore it, spotless to the last, brought it back victorious when from death he passed.
Bore it up triumphant with its human light, through all ranks of creatures to the central height, to the throne of Godhead, to the Fathers’ breast; filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.
In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue all that is not holy, all that is not true; crown him as your captain in temptations hour: let his will enfold you in its light and power.
For this same Lord Jesus shall return again, with his Father’s glory and his angel train; all the wreaths of empire meet upon his brow and our hearts confess him King of Glory now.
Prayers
Living God, help us not just to express thankfulness, but to joyfully receive your gifts and faithfully make use of them in your service.
Sovereign God, you came to our world in Christ, bringing acceptance, wholeness and renewal; empower us now to open our lives to your generous pardon and unfailing love.
Loving God, we offer this and every day in worship, sustain us in our lives of service, uphold us in times of challenge and struggle.
Faithful God, as we reflect during Lent nourish us all in our journey of faith. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
Bible Readings
Deuteronomy 8:1-5
Do not forget the Lord
8 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
Luke 4:1-13
Jesus is tested in the wilderness
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’
4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone.”’
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.’
8 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”’
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
‘“He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”’
12 Jesus answered, ‘It is said: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Reflection
Until I read the material for this week’s worship, I have not really thought about a strong connection between Moses and his leadership of the people of Israel and this part of Jesus ministry. 40 days in the desert vaguely rings a bell in terms of the 40 years the people wandered in the desert on their escape from Egypt. But 40 is just a number the writers of the law liked?
All four of the gospel writers were, in differing ways and styles attempting to convince their readers that Jesus is most definitely the Messiah. So, all relevant connections between what happened to Moses and the people, when they first made their covenant with God and what happened in the life of Jesus are important for the gospel writers to highlight.
Jesus, in this reading from Luke, is experiencing the questions we all face – how do I live my life, what is the right thing to do with my gifts and skills, do I take short cuts, or make the long journey of experience and hard work? Jesus push back on his temptation is to quote Moses in Deuteronomy 8 “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” This is another reference to what happened in the desert, when God provided manna- basic, emergency food when none was available.
The picture that Luke gives us is of Jesus being hungry and tempted to make food appear without effort. It would be so easy to just take the bread and not think about the consequences. The wider story is what does Jesus choose to do-his rejection of the suggestions about taking power, worshipping Satan and demonstrating his ability to do miracles – is a statement of intention that is explored throughout his ministry. I am Messiah, but not a military leader, or magician.
This week the Lent material from the Methodist Church in Britain asks us to think about what “nourishes us”. The image of the paper lunch bag helps remind us that we need nothing fancy, but simple things, that put us in touch with our soul, help us communicate with God and energise us to share that gift of God’s love with others.
Hymn StF 161
Speak O Lord, as we come to you to receive the food of your holy word. Take your truth, plant it deep in us; shape and fashion us in your likeness, that the light of Christ might be seen today in our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us all your purposes, for your glory.
Teach us Lord, full obedience, holy reverence, true humility. Test our thoughts and our attitudes in the radiance of your purity. Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see your majestic love and authority. Words of power that can never fail; let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak O Lord and renew our minds; help us grasp the heights of your plan for us. Truth unchanged from the dawn of time that will echo through eternity. And by grace we’ll stand on your promises, and by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us. Speak, O Lord, till your church is built and the earth is filled with your glory.
Prayers
Loving God, we bring to you people who have insufficient food, who do not feel safe in their home, who live in a society that fails to protect them from harm. We recognise that this is the life of far too many people, across your world and we ask that you stir up the hearts of everyone to bring positive change.
We sometimes are distracted by the noise and glitter of things around us, help us to focus on you and choose what nourishes and energises us to bring you worship and action. Show us how we can help others.
Amen
