Identity Theft

Read: Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7; Matthew 4.1-11; Romans 5.12-21

First Sunday in Lent

We tend to think of our identity as highly personal; it’s something we developed, discovered, or even created ourselves. However, it turns out that our identity is firmly and unavoidably rooted in our relationships. As it turns out, pretty much everything I might say about myself involves others. What I call “my identity” ultimately emerges from the nexus of relationships I enjoy with countless others.

This idea of a relational identity is critical to understanding this week’s biblical readings, particularly those from Genesis, Matthew and Romans.