This is one of three readings used to explore the Lent theme: “Hineni: Here I Am” – looking at the idea of spiritually showing up and saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call and invitation.
Matthew 4:1-11 (slightly altered text)
3 Voices: Narrator, Tempter, Jesus
Narrator: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.
The tempter came and said to him,
Tempter: “If you are the God’s own beloved,
command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
Narrator: But Jesus answered,
Jesus: “It is written,‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Narrator: Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him,
Tempter: “If you are the God’s own beloved, throw yourself down;
for it is written, ‘God will command the angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
Narrator: Jesus said to the Tempter,
Jesus: “Again it is written, ‘Do not put Yahweh your God to the test.’”
Narrator: Again, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the realms of the world and their splendor and he said to him,
Tempter: “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Narrator: Jesus said to the Tempter,
Jesus: “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship Yahweh your God,
and serve only God.’”
Narrator: Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
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- by Geoffrey Clarke, UK
