1st Lenten-Sunday C Lk 4.1-13 (17.02.2013)

We know already JvN likes to realize the "Kingdom of God" (Lk 4.21)
and we have found a translation thereof:
                              "to participate with the fullness of Life".

The story "temptation in the wilderness" (Lk 4.1-13) clarifies quite well
what is meant by "to participate with the fullness of Life".

Temptation A) "turn stone into bread" ! If yes
it means: the resources (bread) are un-limited...   (= fullness of Life).
Jesu' first answer: No ! because Christian Life-style accepts that all resources
are and remain limited (water, food, oil, forest / power, love, freedom, peace...)
and they draw thereof the consequences.
Jesu' second answer: No ! because we don't live for the use (waste) of the resources (bread), we live because of the challenge of the Word of God.

Temptation B) "worship the devil". If yes
it means: all the kingdoms of the world are un-limited given.
Jesus answers: No ! our worship is limited. We worship the Mystery of God;
nothing else! and therefore we accept all our power and glory as limited.
We don't worship the sun, not the Government, not the money, not the science...

Temptation C) "throw yourwelf down". If yes
it means: angels will allow un-limited behaviour (do whatever you like).
Jesus: No ! our behaviour is limited and we accept it (our view, knowledge, hearing etc... is conditioned and limited). We don't put in question the creation-law.

As we strive to participate with the fullness of Life, we have to recognize:
the resources, the worship, the behaviour - all is limited.
The Life-chance between birth and death is limited - once and for all.
We are Earth-dust or Star-dust...   our AMEN means: we accept to be limited;
we live within limits. We are ambassadors of terminability ( 2 Cor 5.20)

If you fast, you establish a sign of free limitation - you not only accept limits,
you see a great value in the Life-limitation.
How do we integrate our "participation with the fullness of life" into the
experienced Life-limitation ?