|
Today we hear again the
timeless story of Abraham, our father in the faith, whom God put to the
test by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Why would God want the
death of that child? It should be obvious that the point of the
encounter was to determine the depth of Abraham's faith. Paul tells us
that "Abraham believed in God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness." [Rom 4, 3b] God owed nothing to Abraham but because of
his total faith, God gave credit to him.
Was there some other way for
Abraham to establish his faith in the Lord? There is no way for us to
know. This was the test the Lord set before Abraham. What way does He
set before you?
In Mark's gospel we hear the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus and his
inner group of apostles Peter, James and John, went up a mountain. They
experienced a supernatural vision of his glory and also recognized Moses
and Elijah in conversation with Jesus. Finally, they heard what they
understood to be the voice of God Himself proclaim, "This is My beloved
Son. Listen to Him." From Mark's narrative it is obvious that the
disciples were bewildered by what had transpired. They had no way of
understanding its meaning.
From our vantage point, thousands of years later, we recognize that the
apostles were being prepared for a test that was yet to come, the
passion and resurrection of the Lord. Without the Transfiguration,
the cross could have been taken for one more triumph of evil over human
weakness. But the Transfiguration manifests the truth that Jesus was the
Son of the Father, and that he freely laid down his life, only to take
it up again at the resurrection. Jesus did not suffer and die because it
was forced upon Him. Jesus’ passion and death was his freely offered
gift to the Father.
In the days that followed the apostles were put to the test. The
Transfiguration strengthened them for what was to come.
What has all of this to do with you and me? Have you seen God's glory in
your life and wondered what that was all about? Has He asked you for
something that seemed totally strange or unfair? Could you endure a test
like Abraham? Are you in a time of preparation for a test or a mission
yet to come?
This season of Lent is a good time to ask questions, of ourselves, of
each other, and of the Lord who loves us to the point of chipping away
everything in us that does not resemble his divine Son.
|
