In churches that use the Common Lectionary, the season of Lent, beginning soon, always starts with a story of temptation. That’s not much to sing about. One might argue, in fact, that only “the Tempter” could possibly sing about temptation. On the first Sunday in Lent, however, when the Church pays attention once again to the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, most of the time it also sings. And if one uses an older definition of “sing,” it is easy to say that the Church faithfully “sings” the story of the temptation of Jesus.
The 17th century poet, John Milton, author of a few hymn texts, and most famous for his long poem, Paradise Lost, also wrote what might be called a sequel to that poem: Paradise Regained. It is the story, in verse, of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. Milton (writing in the English of his day) begins his poem this way:
I who erewhile the happy Garden sung, (meaning Eden) By one man’s disobedience lost, now sing Recover’d Paradise to all mankind, By one man’s firm obedience fully tri’d Through all temptation, and the Tempter foil’d
Did you notice that Milton does not describe his first poem as having been written but “sung?” And the poem he starts here he will not write but “sing,” he says. He is going to “sing” the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Milton’s use of the word “sing” dates back to the time of Homer’s verses when it had a more literal meaning; it is now archaic. Yet some of the sense of it lingers. We still use expressions like “singing the praises” of so and so.
If Milton’s form of singing means telling a story in verse form, I should have written these comments last year when the story of Jesus’ temptation was read from Matthew’s Gospel on the First Sunday in Lent. Matthew’s account has a lovely rhythm to it: the tempter makes a suggestion, Jesus replies by quoting Deuteronomy; the tempter makes another suggestion, another quotation from Deuteronomy. Three times this happens. Milton would likely agree that Matthew “sings” the story.
Mark’s version, by contrast, is extremely brief. Hardly singing at all. No specific temptations are identified, no locations given, and Jesus never quotes Deuteronomy. If Matthew’s story “sings” Mark’s barely hums. But because of the outcome of the story, the Church willingly lifts its voice and sings even on the First Sunday in Lent, and even when the story is read from The Gospel of Mark.
Near the end of his fanciful re-telling of the story, Milton tells us that Satan fell, “smitten with amazement” at the faithfulness and wisdom of Jesus. Then, turning his attention to Jesus, he tells us, “Angelic Choirs sung heavenly Anthems of his victory over temptation and the Tempter proud.” So if the Church today still sings the story of Jesus’ temptation, it simply puts us in good company with “angelic choirs.”
Peace be with you,
Pastor Bruce Benson
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