When times get tough, people need more than pep talks and optimistic attitudes.  They demand real-time solutions.

That's why a Brazilian homemaker named Maria recently took desperate measures.  After a brutal economic downturn, Maria hit the streets in search of a job; only to receive a pile of rejection letters.  So Maria went out on a limb and lifted up a prayer to Saint Expeditus, the patron saint of urgent causes.

In no time, reports The Wall Street Journal (April 15, 2004), she got a phone call -- an import shop needed a salesperson to start right away.  Maria was convinced that her prayer had been answered, since getting a job in Brazil these days "almost qualifies as a miracle."

The word got around, and soon a friend accompanied Maria to the Saint Expeditus Chapel to pray that she would be offered a shoe-saleswoman job.  Now worshipers at the chapel are overflowing onto the streets, as Saint Expeditus becomes the object of cult-like devotion for a growing number of Brazilians.  (Matt Moffett, "Jobless Brazilians Needing Fast Action call on St. Expeditus," The Wall Street Journal, April 15, 2004)

Saint Expeditus.  The saint for real-time solutions.  Sounds pretty attractive, doesn't he?

We don't have to be Brazilian or Catholic to be drawn to this patron saint of urgent causes -- we've all found ourselves in desperate situations.  We've needed an infusion of cash to pay our winter heating bills; a new medication to control our depression; a beneficial judgment in a stress-producing lawsuit; a healthy relationship to save us from loneliness; a change in careers after years of frustration.  The dozens of prayers deposited daily on the altar of the Saint Expeditus Chapel offer a list of needs that make perfect sense to Christians of any nation or denomination.  One prayer asks for the saint's help in paying for kidney dialysis, while another contains the re`sume` of an unemployed executive, detailing his years of experience as a factory manager. 

We know these needs.  And we understand, all too well, these desperate cries for help.

But what's interesting about today's passage of Scripture is that it doesn't encourage us to ask a saint like Expeditus to spring us from trouble.  The Gospel doesn't even suggest that we call on God's angels to pluck us out of hot water or get us out of a jam.  Instead, Jesus gives us a very different example as he faces a desperate situation of his own.

Here we have Jesus in the throes of temptation -- against the Prince of Darkness himself.  Jesus has been fasting for forty days and nights, and he is absolutely famished.  The devil senses the raw ache of his hunger, and so he offers Jesus a real-time solution: "command these stones to become loaves of bread" (Matthew 4:3).

But Jesus isn't interested in self-serving miracles.  "One does not live by bread alone," he replies, quoting Holy Scripture, "but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (v. 4).

Then the devil takes him to the holy city of Jerusalem and places him on the pinnacle of the temple.  "If you are the Son of God," the devil suggests to him, "throw yourself down; for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you,' and "On their hands they will bear you up'" (v. 6).  Satan uses the words of Scripture against Jesus, suggesting that God will intervene and rescue Jesus through the action of his angels -- kind of like the fast action people have come to expect from Saint Expeditus.

But once again, Jesus digs deep into Scripture and responds by saying, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (v. 7).

Finally, Satan takes Jesus to a very high mountain and offers him all the kingdoms of the world.  "Just think of the influence you will have," implies the devil.  "Imagine all the good you can do; no more hunger or disease, poverty or pain, violence or war!"  The only catch, written in extremely small type at the bottom of the contract, is that Jesus must fall down and worship Satan.

The answer, of course, is a decisive dismissal: "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him'" (v. 10).  Once again, Jesus doesn't reach out to Saint Expeditus or any other form of heavenly help; he doesn't even cry out to God.  Instead, he remains grounded in a good book; the Word of God, Holy Scripture.

Scripture is a razor-sharp weapon in a time of temptation or trouble.  It is "living and active," says the letter to the Hebrews, "sharper than any two-edged sword" (4:12).  When you've got this kind of sword, no saint like Expeditus is really needed.  "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," promises the letter of James.  "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" (4:7-8).  One of the best ways to resist the devil and draw near to God is to immerse yourself in Holy Scripture -- just as Jesus did during his time of temptation.  You can immerse yourself in my Basic Bible class, which is offered on Friday and Sunday mornings; in the Scripture study of one of our Women's Circles; in a neighborhood Bible Study; or in your own private reading.

When times get tough, Scripture can provide us with real-time solutions.  We can survive, and even thrive, if we hold tightly to the promises that God has made to us; promises that can help us to pass safely and quickly through our times of trial.  The Bible tells us that:

In times of need, "God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

In times of fear, "I, the Lord your God, [will] hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Do not fear, I will help you'" (Isaiah 41:13).

In times of loneliness, "I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

In times of anxiety, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

These promises are grounded in the rock-solid Word of God; the same Word that was an anchor for Jesus in his time of trial.  This is not to say that the words of Scripture themselves are some kind of magic formula to ward of evil, like a string of garlic cloves to drive off Dracula.  But when these words are studied and used and lifted up in prayer, as Jesus used them during his 40 days in the wilderness, then they can be a rock-solid foundation for living.  A foundation that isn't shaken by trouble.  A foundation that isn't toppled by temptation.

Today we come to the Lord's Table to receive the bread of life and the cup of salvation.  This simple meal is one way that the Word of God becomes visible in our lives, reminding us that Jesus really did sacrifice his body for us, and he really did spill his blood for the forgiveness of our sins.  When we eat and drink together, we are made aware that Christ loves us and wants to give himself for us, so that we will be able to experience forgiveness, new life, and everlasting salvation.

In times of trouble, Christ is with us.  We are not alone.  That's a real-time solution.  Amen