;Poet Robert Frost first published his famous poem “The Road Not Taken” in 1915. It has since become his most  famous poem. You’ve probably heard at least part of it before. It goes like this:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Like all poetry, there are a variety of interpretations about the meaning of “The Road Not Taken.” No matter the interpretation, there is one truth about this poem that I think can be agreed upon. Life is full of decisions that we must make. We come to many crossroads in life where we must choose the way forward. Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness gives us direction on how to make those decisions.

The tempter presents Jesus with three opportunities. Each one is a crossroads. They all present different options but require the same basic choice to be made. First, the tempter encourages Jesus, who he knows is in need of nourishment after fasting for 40 days, to turn stones into bread. As the Son of God, Jesus probably had the power to do as the tempter had suggested. We know that Jesus could turn water into wine. But Jesus chooses a different path. He chooses to follow the Word of God. He responds, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” The tempter is not done though. Next, he tries to get Jesus to jump off of the highest part of the temple and command the angels to save him. Once again, Jesus returns to God’s Word, saying, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” The tempter tries one more time offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus will just bow down and worship him. Jesus again chooses the path that leads toward God, saying, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness is largely considered to be his preparation for ministry. It’s the beginning of the journey. Tonight, we have come to the wilderness. Before us is dust and stone. Our lives are laid bare before God and a crossroad lies ahead of us. Which path will we choose?

You may have noticed the Latin phrase on the cover of the bulletin: Quo Vadis, Domine? It means, “Where are you going, Lord?” Jesus found his direction in God through God’s word. We, too, can find direction in the person of Jesus, the living Word of God. Which path should we choose? Where is Jesus going? Is Jesus going the way that leads to power or the way that leads to humility and mercy and justice? Is Jesus going the way that leads to fear and abuse or the way that leads to peace and compassion? Is Jesus going the way that leads to riches and excess or the way that leads to generosity and sacrifice? Quo Vadis, Domine? Where are you going, Lord?

When we come and receive a cross of ashes on our foreheads, we hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return, but the Word of the Lord lasts forever.” Those ashes are not a sign of despair. They are a direction, a sign pointing us toward God and the path God has laid before us. Ash Wednesday is a reminder of our humanity and our brokenness. But that is not the end of God’s story for us, it is merely the beginning of the journey. The wilderness was not the end of Jesus’ journey. It was the beginning of his earthly ministry. The cross was not the end of Jesus’ journey. It was the beginning of God’s plan to save us. Two roads diverge many times throughout our lives. May we take the road less traveled by the road that Jesus took. The road of compassion and love, the road of sacrifice and humility, the road of peace and justice. For it will make all the difference. Amen!