The Lies of Empire

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship! Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact with this growing community of faith. And so, if you are joining us for the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday: You are welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation.

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Ever-Loving, Ever-Present God, thank you for the signs of your abiding love, shown to us even in the wilderness that we often make for ourselves. Give us courage to stand firm in your Word in every time of trial and testing, that we may enter the land of your freedom and establish the way of love you so generously teach; in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Loving God, we pray for all who live in places of threat and danger. We turn to you, for in Jesus, you taught us courage in the face of persecution. Teach us to prepare a table where enemies may feast instead of fight.

We pray for those who do not have enough — enough to eat, enough to wear, or enough justice for them to hold space. In your Holy Spirit, you fill the empty with good things, and lift up the lowly. Help us share the abundance we enjoy and to work for the freedom and dignity of all your children.

We pray for all who are chronically houseless, wandering our streets and sleeping unprotected; and for those who are houseless for a season because of natural disaster or economic trouble.

The LWCC Vocal Quartet joins us today in memory of Joanna Matos, courtesy of The Matos Family.

Bring your word near to us, O God. May it rest not only in my ears but make its way into my heart and out through my hands and voice. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to respond to those in need with our whole lives until all creation recognizes that we dwell in you; through Jesus we pray. Amen.

¹Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ²where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. ³The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” ⁴Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” ⁵Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. ⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” ⁸Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” ⁹Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ ¹¹and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” ¹²Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ¹³When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

In Luke, 4:1-13, the devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, to take control of the kingdoms of the world, and to perform a spectacular stunt that would “wow the crowd.” Jesus refused to take control in these ways. Instead, Jesus chose another way to feed hungry people, to demonstrate what the kindom of God can be, and then he chose to enter Jerusalem humbly. The ego compels us to look for the flashy ways and Jesus shows us that the way isn’t flashy, but it does come at the expense of our ego. Where does your ego get in the way of following Jesus? Where do you see the egos of others getting in the way of building the kin-dom of God around us?

Israel came out of the wilderness and into a land flowing with milk and honey. There they were finally able to offer to God baskets full, in joyful celebration. We, too, bring the first fruits of all that God has so generously given us, with joy and thanksgiving. Amen.

Loving and Generous God, we are amazed by the good gifts you bestow in abundance. Thank you for food that sustains us on our journey. Thank you for the company of saints to whom we are joined. Thank you for giving us work to do on earth. We offer back to you a portion of all that we have received, setting down our baskets in celebration of your greatest gift — Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

May the God of the Exodus lead us into freedom. May the Holy Spirit draw us into the love of God for all creation. May Jesus, show us how we may bring about the way of true justice and peace. Amen.