Refusing to Jump: Worship Resource for the First Sunday in Lent, Year A

If you are who you say you are
The Tempter said
Then jump! -- Nothing will happen to you . . . .
(A loose interpretation of Matthew 4:6.)

God, we confess,
that we, too, are tempted to think that the angels will catch us
and that the laws of gravity were never meant for such as us.

We have lived as though we would not suffer
from eating too much and moving around too little,
from working too hard and disregarding Sabbath rest,
from neglecting those dear to us.

Forgive, O God,
the times when we have tempted you by acting presumptuously,

Forgive, O God,
a lifestyle of jumping from high and lofty places,

And teach us how to be truly human. Amen.