INTRODUCTION
The common theme that cut across the readings of today is metamorphosis or transformation. They point our attention to the new attitude that we should wear during Lent that will qualify us for Easter. It is a call to radiate the glory and grace of God by abandoning ourselves in his hands to lead us out of our old location into a new location of total life changing encounter.
FIRST READING: Genesis 12:1-4
The vocation of Abraham is so fascinating. Unlike Noah whom the bible clearly affirmed to be a righteous man (Gen. 6:9), there was neither an introduction about Abraham’s personality nor his previous connection with God. Although as it is normal in the Hebraic tradition his genealogy was introduced in a passing just to affirm the authenticity of his background. It was said that he belonged to the lineage of Shem one of the three sons of Noah (Gen. 9:18; 11:10) and that he was fathered by Terah (Gen. 11:25). He was simply a pagan (the term pagan is from the Latin pagus simply means a villager or a civilian. Although during the Christian era it was used to designate those who were still practicing the old ways). Hence living his country, his kindred and his father’s house (12:1.5) was a journey of conversion from paganism (leaving the old way) to meeting God at Canaan (a physical environment which has a connotation of a new encounter with God).
WHAT TRULY ATTRACTED ABRAHAM TO GOD?
1 We recall that at this time Abraham was at the age of 75 (Gen. 12:11) had no child and God made a promise to him that he will be the father of a great nation (Gen. 12:2). But this couldn’t have attracted Abraham. It is humanly irrational to quickly accept such a ‘bogus promise’ of being the father of nations when at this age he could not even boast of a child.
2 Could it be the blessing of material affluence? Certainly, improbable because Abraham was a very rich man. In fact, leaving for Canaan he amassed a lot of possessions enough for the journey (Gen. 12:5).
Yes the only thing that attracted Abraham to God is the confidence that God placed on him, and from nothing God called him, and still without his merit God chose to make him great. When Abraham understood this truth, he became restless. And within a short space of time he has built altars which is a sign of adoration to this loving God (Gen. 12:7 at Shechem and 12:8 at Bethel). This is the “epicenter” of every authentic vocation. The attraction of man to his God and his response to the call of God must be born from the acknowledgement that God does not call out of merit (No one is worthy) but out of grace which St. Paul will tell Timothy in the Second Reading. When vocation is understood as an act of God’s grace, then fidelity to ones vocation becomes a sign of constant positive response, value of, and appreciation of God’s love.
LESSON FROM GOD’S ENCOUNTER WITH ABRAHAM
1 NEW IDENTITY
Vocation is simply God’s way of giving meaning to ones life. The image painted of Abraham before he encountered God was that of childlessness. And not having a child in such a setting is equivalent to not having name, not having future and by consequence living a meaningless life. He was wealthy but he had no name until God came in. Thus, his identity was redefined the moment he met God: from being childless to becoming the father of a nation. We may have everything that life provides, but if we don’t have God in our life, we are spiritually barren and have no identity. Our life becomes fruitful only from the moment we encounter God.
2 VOCATION: AN UNCERTAIN-CERTAINTY
The call of God is never clear. No one understands it in toto. It is a mystery that unfolds gradually through discernment. Abraham heard God who asked him to move. He was not sure of where he was going, yet he did not miss the track simply because he was not preoccupied with where he was going to, rather his conviction in the voice that called him. Yes, the place was uncertain, but the voice was certain. Why we often miss our track in our Christian vocation is because we spend time thinking of where we are going to: the type of blessing we will receive from God; mega miraculous expectations instead of focusing on the voice of God. How many of us still hears the voice of God? How many of us still follows God’s voice even when we meet with disappointment and uncertainties?
3 VOCATION IS ALL ABOUT LEAVING SOMETHING BEHIND
“Leave your country, your kindred and your father’s house…” If Abraham must be at Canaan, he must leave Ur of the Chaldeans. He must depart from Haran. It is a physical movement but with a deep spiritual undertone. We cannot meet the Lord and still remain seated in the same old life. If we truly desire “Canaan” (Heaven) we must denounce our old way of living; our comfort zone; our security; our “little gods” that are holding us captives. Yes, the experience of God cannot be lived in spiritual stagnancy. It involves abandoning oneself in the hand of God who never leads astray.
SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 1:8-10
The second Reading is Paul’s apostolic letter to his spiritual son Timothy the bishop of Ephesus. Conscious of what such a prestigious position could yield; glory and suffering, Paul felt the need to remind Timothy to be conscious (when the glory increases) of the fact that the vocation is not out of merit but out of God’s grace (which should require constant submission to God). He equally reminds him never to be discouraged when suffering comes, because that is an evangelical way of taking part in the suffering of Christ. Above all, Paul invites Timothy never to lose sight of that ultimate goal of every Christian, that is irrespective of the suffering in this life, all does not end in death because Christ has abolished death through his suffering and death and has brought life and immortality as a reward to those who remain faithful to their calling.
GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1-9
The commentaries that come with this passage usually focus on; the figures of Moses and Elijah as representing the Law and the prophets, and Jesus as the fulfilment of the Law and the prophets. And consequently, the voice of the Father as a witness to the Son, and eventually the beatific experience of the three apostles. But variably, I intend to parallel this passage with the first reading in order for us to have a different meaning out of it:
1. Just as God led Abraham, Sarai and Lot away from the environment and old routine to a new Canaan land of revelation (Gen. 12:5), in the Gospel, Jesus led Peter, James and John away from the crowd and from usual environment up the mountain where His glory was revealed to them.
2. Like Abraham and his companions left without knowing where God was leading them to, Peter and his companions did not have an a priori knowledge of where Jesus was leading them to (not just Tabor but a new Tabor of glory).
3. At Haran God spoke to Abraham without revealing himself to him: “Yahweh said, leave your country…” (Gen. 12:1). He only appeared to Abraham for the first time when Abraham arrived the place he instructed him to go (Gen. 12:7). In the same way, Tabor offered the apostles an entirely new experience of Jesus. It was the very first time the divine nature of Jesus was revealed to them.
4. God did not allow Abraham to remain the place he encountered Him. Abraham made a further move to Negeb where he will encounter the challenge of famine (Gen. 12:9) which will force him to a stressful journey down to Egypt (v.10) where he will face threat of his life because of his wife whom he claimed to be his sister (v. 12-13). These are challenges that Abraham must face in order to authenticate his vocation and a way that God chose to purify his intention before finally settling in the lands of glory promised by God (Gen. 13:1; 15:18-21; 25:8-10). At Tabor, Peter opted that they remain in glory, but Jesus would not allow that. He simply told Peter: ‘No you cannot remain here! If you must have a final possession of this glory, you must go down, for you are not qualified yet for the glory. You have to face the challenges of persecution and the cross. You must authenticate your vocation through suffering.’
5. God did not reveal himself to Abraham for the sake of revelation. It was meant to transform Abraham so that through him the people of Israel will be born. The transfiguration of Jesus was simply the way the evangelists wished to affirm his divinity. Jesus did not need to be transfigured in order to be God. He is always God. Thus, in a real sense Jesus’ transfiguration is meant to transfigure the apostles so that like Abraham, through them a new Israel will be born (the followers of Christ).
6. Abraham was from the family of many descendants (Gen. 11:10-29) but God chose only him for this glorious journey of revelation. On the journey to the mount Tabor of glorious revelation, there are those who must remain at the foot of the mountain. It is not the journey for all. The presence of Peter, James and John (who represents the league of the apostles) signifies that though it is God’s wish that all attain his glory but certainly not all will see it. It is only for those who are prepared to journey with Christ through the type of life they live.
LIFE MESSAGE:
1 WE CAN ONLY ATTAIN GLORY THROUGH SUFFERING
When it comes to witnessing to Christ through suffering, the message itches our ears as Christians. We are becoming “celebrity Christians instead of witnessing Christians.” Nobody wishes to bear the cross yet we all desire glory. We prefer “the Christ of Miracles to the Christ of the Cross.” We are quick to forget that the Christ at the pick of Tabor is the same Christ that went down to the foot of Tabor. Like Peter, James and John, the experience of transfiguration generates a certain level of tranquility to our troubled souls. There comes a time when we experience certain level of peace in our lives that we often wish not to have pains again. There are moments too when we experience peace in our families, record success in the life our children and promotion in our work; the time when life looks so beautiful and full of promises for the future. Yes that is our Tabor experience, and we don’t ever wish to hear anything like suffering and challenges again: “It is better we stay here Lord…” Oh how disappointing it appears when in the midst of our joys the Lord tells us, “Rise let us go down where we will meet pains, contradictions, sickness, disappointments and death?” How do we accept these moments that challenge our faith? Are we ready to stick to the Lord that moves us from Tabor to the foot of the mountain where we meet difficulties of life?
2 WE NEED TO PERSONALIZE THE MESSAGE OF TODAY FOR A FRUITFUL LENTEN SEASON
How we live our Lent and eventually the whole of our life will show whether we have left “Ur of the Chaldeans and the Tabor of Glory.” The Lord invites us to depart from vain glory, from the comforts that do not give honour to His name and from minds and actions full of earthly projects. Lent is a time we must personalize the experience of Abraham and the apostles on Tabor: to leave, to go down and to move. It involves translating our lives into penitential actions. Abraham was not smiling leaving Ur. The apostles were not smiling while coming down from Tabor, but they had no choice since that is the only way to attain glory. The wealth of Canaan (Palestine) was overflowing which Abraham would have missed if he had remained at Ur. The joy of Easter was overflowing that Peter and the rest would have missed if they had remained in the imaginary Tent at Tabor. Jesus invites us to follow Him down to Jerusalem of suffering. He whispers again today: Rise, let’s go!
PRAYER
Lord we are ready to follow You. Take us by the hand and lead us on. Amen.
PAX VOBIS!
