February 17, 2008 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
17 FEBRUARY 2008, 5:15, 8:00, 10:30
READINGS: Genesis 12:1-4a; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9
SAINT MARY PARISH, VIROQUA
Introduction: On this Second Sunday of Lent we hear the call of Abraham and the Transfiguration of Jesus. These are two moments when God communicates an important message: trust me to be your guide.
1. The bible tells the story of so very many journeys. We have another one in the first reading today. Abraham has his first encounter with God. “Go forth,” God tells him. Leave home and go to a land I will show you. I will make of you the father of a great race of people; you will have a land of your own; through you will come blessings to the world.” Essentially, God tells him, “Leave, Go and Trust!” That is really a very frightening directive. Yet, Abraham accepts the challenge. Before his journey is over, the promises made to him come true!
2. In the gospel passage we see Jesus also on a journey. He is on his final journey to Jerusalem. On the top of Mount Tabor, before three beloved disciples, he is transfigured; his face is dazzling as the sun; his clothes radiant as light. While his disciples watch in wonder he converses with Moses and Elijah. What are they talking about? One commentator surprises me; she suggests the conversation is giving needed reassurance to Jesus. She may have a point. Jesus has a growing awareness that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly. Now, here he is talking with two saints of the Old Testament who are stuck in the underworld. Like everyone else, they await the coming of the Messiah which will open the kingdom of heaven. Perhaps they acted as coaches to the human heart of Jesus, who in the midst of a moment of discouragement and fear needed to hear that these great saints were with him. We have always believed that this “lifting of the veil” on the divinity of Christ would sustain the apostles through the awful days which would follow. Very likely, this conversation also sustained Jesus himself. He was reassured that he was connected to a grander purpose than anyone realized. The mountain experience would stay lodged in the memory of the suffering heart of Jesus and encourage him along the way of sorrows. To him, too, the words are spoken. “Leave, Go and Trust!”
3. Now, here we are on our own journey towards Easter. Like Abraham, like Jesus, we hear the words of the Father, “Leave, Go and Trust!” Like them we receive words of encouragement so that we do not lose heart as we carry our own crosses in life. Leave behind you the sins and ways of the past. Go forward to embrace a new way of living, a fuller living with Jesus. Trust even when things are difficult; for I will be with you! Of course, the Transfiguration reveals something of the divine nature of Jesus to his apostles. I think the Transfiguration reveals something of the human side of Jesus too. But even more to the point; as the Transfiguration unveils the human and divine in Christ, it also reveals our potential to become Godlike. That’s a natural consequence if we Leave, Go and Trust!
Conclusion: In some ways we have the same journeys as Abraham and Jesus. It’s comforting to know that we are in good company!