First Sunday of Lent - March 13, 2011

A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 50)

Jesus' three temptations in the desert were about choosing 'upward mobility'. Be relevant: do something the world will praise you for like making bread out of stones. Be spectacular: jump from the tower so that everybody can see you as someone so influential, so important.

Be powerful: kneel before me and I will give you dominion over everyone and everything. But, Jesus said, 'No'. Because Jesus knew that God's way is not to be relevant, or spectacular, or powerful. God's way is downward.

'Blessed are the humble. Blessed are the poor of heart. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the peacemakers'.

Henri Nouwen Society | P.O. Box 230523, Ansonia Station | New York | NY | 10023 | USA