Choosing God's Kingdom

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on March 03, 2022

On the First Sunday of Lent, we read Luke’s account of Jesus’ temptation (Luke 4:1-13). After His baptism, Jesus, “full of the Holy Spirit” was led in the wilderness where He was tempted for forty days.  When we think of temptation, chances are, our thoughts lead to sin. The book of Hebrews says, “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning” (Hebrews 4:15). To be sinless then is not to be free of temptation but to resist the temptation in the power of the Spirit. 

Jesus’ first temptation occurs while He is fasting. Jesus is hungry, His physical body is weak. Should He yield and miraculously make bread for himself? But Jesus places priority on His higher calling. Living in the Spirit and obedience to God’s will transcend bodily needs. Bodily suffering is nothing compared to the glory of obedience to God. In the second test, the devil shows Jesus the magnificence of the kingdoms of the world and offers Jesus, authority over them, if Jesus will worship him. Satan attempts to detour Jesus from His mission of bringing a heavenly spiritual kingdom to earth, luring Him with earthly power. But Jesus, the Son of God knows that God is sovereign over all creation. He only is worthy of worship. The scene of Jesus’ final temptation is symbolically set in the temple, the seat of worship. The devil attempts to make Jesus question God’s faithfulness in God’s house. Will God save Him if He intentionally throws himself down from the pinnacle of the temple? The truth is, we frail creatures cannot test God, God tests us!

 Jesus’ temptations and ours are essentially about the fortitude to choose rightly between the realm of God and the realm of evil. Choices for God or for the world is our lifelong task. But we are not alone in the struggle with temptation. In all three temptations, Jesus is imbued with the presence of the Holy Spirit. He also has the guidance of the Sacred Scriptures which He cites to firmly rebut the temptations. From Jesus’ example in dealing with temptation, we are reminded of our urgent need to constantly read, mark and inwardly digest the word of God so that in our times of testing, we may stand strong against all that attempts to distract us from the path of God. Thanks be to God also for Jesus’ presence with us. He understands our temptations. Come, Lord Jesus, pour Your Holy Spirit upon us, and guide us in making choices that lead away from death and despair, towards the pathway of abundant life in peace and joy with God forever.

Tags: test, jesus, joy, kingdom of god, holy spirit, peace, obedience, glory, temptation, struggle, sinless, resistance, fortitude, forty days

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

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