Creating a Better World
Luke: 4:1-13
Firstly I want to say a special thank you to everyone who has joined us today in worship, as well as everyone who participated in this morning’s pancake breakfast. I’m grateful to Andrew in his assistance in the service today, especially for taking on so much, and being willing to step in to help in the event that my voice cuts out on me.
I still wish to offer a short reflection because of how important Scouting has become to the life of this congregation. It has helped us re-connect with the life of the community in a way that I don’t think all of us fully understand. I hope and pray that this relationship continues because we are all better for it.
For the past number of years, Baden-Powell Sunday has landed on Transfiguration Sunday. It has been a story that has worked well, about mountaintop experiences, about how they can prepare us for life out in the real world. However, because Lent and Easter move around from year to year, we celebrate Scouting and Guiding in Canada on the first Sunday of Lent. Emotionally and Spiritually it’s a different place, moving from the high points to a much more sombre tone.
That having been said, like the story of the Transfiguration last week, we have Jesus going off away from the civilized world… but unlike the experience of the transfiguration, Jesus is by himself. The gospel writers are left to fill in the blanks. Mark simply tells us that Jesus is tempted by Satan, while Matthew and Luke give a bit more embellishment to the story. While the Transfiguration works as a camping metaphor, Jesus going off into the wilderness and facing temptation can work as well.
My brother works for Scouts Canada at the national office, and when I mentioned to him what the Biblical Story was, he said it reminded him of Les Stroud. For those of you who don’t know who Les Stroud is, he’s a Canadian who lives near Huntsville, Ontario who filmed a short-lived series called “Survivorman” where he would place himself in extreme conditions with minimal equipment to show how someone could survive in such harsh conditions with very few resources. He has been credited with providing people with ideas that have helped them in times that they have been lost in the wilderness. According to the gospels, Jesus did the same thing almost 2000 years ago… and it comes with trials and temptations all its own.
Within the scouting experience, part of the skills that we do learn are some of these basic ones that help us manage when we unplug ourselves from the busy-ness of everyday life. There is something to be said for stepping back, for taking some time to ourselves, and to learn what really matters in life. In the Scouting experience, of course, one of the major elements to help nurture that, is of course, camping. Going out into the wilderness, getting away from everything else can help us to really learn what is important in life, what really matters. It is a journey of self-discovery. I know it certainly was for me, even if I could not articulate that at the time.
When Jesus goes out into the wilderness, it’s a journey of self-discovery. During that time, the story tells us that he is tempted by Satan. More specifically, he is tempted to misuse is own power for personal gain (bread), to put God to the test (temple), and to draw the lines of right and wrong himself (rule the world).
But, in that experience, in the choices he makes, he takes responsibility for himself, and returns from the wilderness intent on creating a better world.
I find it curious that when you go to the Scouts Canada website, the first thing you see at the top of the page is “Scouts Canada –Creating a Better World.” This is something that starts right from the ground up. For example, in Beavers, we’re familiar with the motto of “Sharing, Sharing, Sharing.” But did you know that the promise that Beavers make at the opening of every meeting is “I promise to love God, and help take care of the world.”? Who knew? Creating a better world is what Jesus is what Jesus sought to do…
There is much to be said about this. Scouting is all about self-discovery. The Season of Lent is all about self-discovery. Jesus in the wilderness is all about self-discovery… and ultimately, about creating a better world. It is my hope that we can all be a part of that.
Amen.
Firstly I want to say a special thank you to everyone who has joined us today in worship, as well as everyone who participated in this morning’s pancake breakfast. I’m grateful to Andrew in his assistance in the service today, especially for taking on so much, and being willing to step in to help in the event that my voice cuts out on me.
I still wish to offer a short reflection because of how important Scouting has become to the life of this congregation. It has helped us re-connect with the life of the community in a way that I don’t think all of us fully understand. I hope and pray that this relationship continues because we are all better for it.
For the past number of years, Baden-Powell Sunday has landed on Transfiguration Sunday. It has been a story that has worked well, about mountaintop experiences, about how they can prepare us for life out in the real world. However, because Lent and Easter move around from year to year, we celebrate Scouting and Guiding in Canada on the first Sunday of Lent. Emotionally and Spiritually it’s a different place, moving from the high points to a much more sombre tone.
That having been said, like the story of the Transfiguration last week, we have Jesus going off away from the civilized world… but unlike the experience of the transfiguration, Jesus is by himself. The gospel writers are left to fill in the blanks. Mark simply tells us that Jesus is tempted by Satan, while Matthew and Luke give a bit more embellishment to the story. While the Transfiguration works as a camping metaphor, Jesus going off into the wilderness and facing temptation can work as well.
My brother works for Scouts Canada at the national office, and when I mentioned to him what the Biblical Story was, he said it reminded him of Les Stroud. For those of you who don’t know who Les Stroud is, he’s a Canadian who lives near Huntsville, Ontario who filmed a short-lived series called “Survivorman” where he would place himself in extreme conditions with minimal equipment to show how someone could survive in such harsh conditions with very few resources. He has been credited with providing people with ideas that have helped them in times that they have been lost in the wilderness. According to the gospels, Jesus did the same thing almost 2000 years ago… and it comes with trials and temptations all its own.
Within the scouting experience, part of the skills that we do learn are some of these basic ones that help us manage when we unplug ourselves from the busy-ness of everyday life. There is something to be said for stepping back, for taking some time to ourselves, and to learn what really matters in life. In the Scouting experience, of course, one of the major elements to help nurture that, is of course, camping. Going out into the wilderness, getting away from everything else can help us to really learn what is important in life, what really matters. It is a journey of self-discovery. I know it certainly was for me, even if I could not articulate that at the time.
When Jesus goes out into the wilderness, it’s a journey of self-discovery. During that time, the story tells us that he is tempted by Satan. More specifically, he is tempted to misuse is own power for personal gain (bread), to put God to the test (temple), and to draw the lines of right and wrong himself (rule the world).
But, in that experience, in the choices he makes, he takes responsibility for himself, and returns from the wilderness intent on creating a better world.
I find it curious that when you go to the Scouts Canada website, the first thing you see at the top of the page is “Scouts Canada –Creating a Better World.” This is something that starts right from the ground up. For example, in Beavers, we’re familiar with the motto of “Sharing, Sharing, Sharing.” But did you know that the promise that Beavers make at the opening of every meeting is “I promise to love God, and help take care of the world.”? Who knew? Creating a better world is what Jesus is what Jesus sought to do…
There is much to be said about this. Scouting is all about self-discovery. The Season of Lent is all about self-discovery. Jesus in the wilderness is all about self-discovery… and ultimately, about creating a better world. It is my hope that we can all be a part of that.
Amen.
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