Tag: prayer

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1–7; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11

Both Adam and Jesus were presented with the same temptation; perhaps most temptations are similar in nature when we peel back the layers. We want to be God, or god-like; to be all-powerful and all-knowing. Emulating Christ is paramount for Christians; however, the temptation to shift away from desires to imitate Him and to attempt to fulfil the craving to be god-like is seductive.

Following the Fall, “…humanity exists in the position of deciding for itself what is best…Humanity does “become like God” in the sense that it now makes its own decisions as to what is best for itself, but it makes these decisions as creature, without the wisdom and vision of the creator” (The Collegeville Bible Commentary). The New Interpreters Bible says, “Genesis 3 explores the human yearning to go beyond the limits within which they were created.”

This over-reaching, the desire for the power and knowledge that is the Lord’s alone is the serpent’s temptation to Eve, and the devil’s to Christ. We are tempted in the same way daily.  The seven deadly sins, pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony and sloth are excessive measures to gain the Lord’s power and knowledge. The devil approaches Jesus with three variations of the core temptation; however, each is to prove Himself to be equal with God by the show of power and control. Jesus teaches us to respond the serpent by not testing the Lord, listening to and adoring Him alone. These three guidelines lead us to arrange our motivations, attitudes, and behaviors so that God can be the God of our lives.

There may be various reasons that we desire such power and knowledge, but often we want these god-like characteristics because they lead to an emotional high that becomes intoxicating and addicting. “Man is spirit, but has emotions…The rule of feeling in human life leads inevitably to anarchy within the individual and… society” (The God-players, Jabay, 1970, p.15). Emotion is not inherently negative or evil, but feeding off them for what can mistakenly seem to be life-sustaining energy can lead to trouble. Our spirit is of God, He alone can provide the energy we need; we are not our emotions, but nor are we the Lord. We need to make the decisions of our lives by surrendering to His wisdom and vision, and not falling to the temptations to sin for the emotional high that comes from the pursuit of God’s power and knowledge.

Journal questions:

• What characteristics of the Lord’s do I emulate? When do I take them too far?
• When do I “play God?” How do I test Him? In what ways do I try to manipulate Him into doing my will?
• What sins do I tend to commit, and what sort of emotional state do they lead to?
• How do I express my adoration for the Lord? Am I showy or shy? Do I ignore or neglect this desire of God’s?

Writing exercise:

Write about a situation or event when your sincere desire to model your life on Christ’s somehow mutated into the goal to be god-like. What sins were your tools? Use sensory details to capture the moment in which it turned from noble to self-involved.

Creative arts:

Fabric arts- Make a quilting square or piece that represents the emotions created in the resisting of urges for god-like power, control and knowledge.

Paper arts- Create a piece which tells a story of a time in which you listened to God above human voices.

Home arts- Put an item or decoration in each room that somehow glorifies the Lord, or expresses your adoration of Him. For example, you may put a cross in each room, even if it is small or hidden from view.

 

© 2014 Marilyn MacArthur, all rights reserved

Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:1; Matthew 1:6, 16–18

The prophet urges the people to fast and repent so as to gain divine attention. “The hoped-for result of the repentance is that perhaps (The Lord) will act according to the characteristics listed” (The New Jerome Bible Commentary, 1990). When we remind someone of their best qualities, we are holding up for them their best selves as a role model.

Joel promises all people God’s blessing, including those typically excluded. Paul, like Joel, makes clear that the community, not individuals need to reform. In the Mediterranean culture of Paul’s time, to warrant friendship and reconciliation, a people needed to accept their friend’s friends and reject their enemies. In addition to the references to community within the letter, the epistle itself would have been read to the assembly.

We think of repentance as an individual matter, however, in the first reading it is a community need. The word repentance in New Testament Greek is ‘metanoia,’ which means ‘change of heart.’ This speaks to what we know in modern lingo as ‘corporate culture.’ We’ve all worked in negative environments but hopefully we’ve also experienced community cultures where compassion, patience, and helping others is the norm. The Lord expects us to foster such an environment.

Jesus mentions almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Fasting during Lent is the laying down, prayer is the practice we pick up. We think of almsgiving as giving money or monetary goods, however, as Christians and Catholics we are rich because we know Christ; we must share Him, as well. While it is not always appropriate to talk about Christ explicitly, we give him away when we are compassionate, comforting, patient and forgiving. To give Christ we must also sacrifice self-gratification and allow prayer to be our priority. Through Lenten prayer and practice, the Christ within becomes more dominant and we are better able to stimulate personal and community metanoia.

Journal questions: Reflecting on personal Lenten practices:

• How can I monetarily or through the purchase of monetary goods support others?
• How can I share Christ with others?
• Can I structure a fast for myself, whether it is a few consecutive days, or one day a week? What would the details be?
• Do I need to add or subtract any specific prayer practices? How might I use these reflections and suggested questions, exercises, and activities in my prayer?

Writing exercise:

List the characteristics and qualities that you would like the Lord to reveal to you in this present moment. Choosing one, imagine that revelation, or write about the situation that has led you to this need. For example, perhaps you are struggling with a particular sin or failing, and you need God to show you mercy and forgiveness. Write either how you got to this point, or imagine God’s response to your need.

Creative arts:

Fabric arts- Using felt or scraps depict a scene which symbolizes repentance to you or a situation that you need to repent from.

Paper arts- Create a piece that represents an aspect of your faith or relationship to Christ to share with others. For example, you may make a scrapbook page using a rubber stamp of the word “hope.”

Home arts- Make something to benefit your community. For example, you may make loaves of bread, thinking of Christ as “the Bread of Life,” and give them to a soup kitchen. Plan your Lenten fast. Make decisions about how you will give alms this Lent; what causes might you donate to? What, other than money, can you share with others?

 

© 2014 Marilyn MacArthur, all rights reserved