The lesson was on the temptation in the wilderness. We talked about prayer, scripture and Christian community as tools to help us resist temptation. One young man told how angry he got when he was disrespected by those in authority. That was when Christian community became real. The other men began to share how they had survived similar situations. An older gentleman reminded us that “This is between you and Jesus–it doesn’t matter what other people say or do to you. You listen to Him!” Others shared ways they had gained understanding and techniques to overcome feelings of anger.
When we shared prayer concerns, the young man asked for forgiveness for judging others’ intentions. The group’s response was a gentle, understanding laughter, because we all recognized how this man had come full circle, and he had done it by opening up to his Christian brothers. That’s Church!