February 21, 2016

Second Sunday of Lent C Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3: 17 - 4: 1; Luke 9: 28-36 I have found down through the years that I am confused with things around me…with events that are happening that just seem to be denying God…with the continued inhumanity that is witnessed by people who confess some sort of religious belief. I wonder about the role the Lord has for me to play and how I do this. Then…is this message from the Lord or is it from me? These are the thoughts that came to me as I read today’s readings but also some amazing insights came too. First in Genesis the verse that touched me was Abram asking God, “How am I to know…?” That is my question so often. Like others, it would be really nice if God would just tell me directly, ‘Do this…don’t do this…take this road…I want you to do this’,,, It would be so nice to know directly what I am to do but God doesn’t operate like that. I suppose it has to do with the ‘free will’ that Scripture and theologians say is a gift to each person from the Spirit. And today we hear that God makes two promises to Abram: the first that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars and next that Abram and his descendants will possess their own land. Abram put his faith in God for the first promise and asked for a sign for the second . How many times I ‘want a sign’ not to go through any discernment but I just want to get to it…let me know. In those times I can easily look back and reflect on where my faith was in all of this. Faith involves trust…was I trusting God? If I tend to want a sign, I guess I just don’t trust God. As Living the Word states, “To attest to God’s trustworthiness and to seal the covenant, God takes an oath (Genesis 15: 9-21).” Paul in writing to the Philippian community tells them that he and others are models of Christ. Am I modeling Christ? Do I continue on when life gets tough? Do I stop and complain or say ‘poor me’? Do I want more to be consoled than to be a consoler? So often people stop me to say ‘thanks’ … what does that ‘thanks’ mean? Well, in some way in what I said or in what I did or in what I am, touched them. So often I have to ask them ‘Why are you thanking me…what did I do?’ Their response all has to do with what Paul is talking about: How I am Modeling Jesus. I don’t see this. So often it is what I seem to be doing naturally: caring for others…listening to others…offering prayers…taking time with the hurting or confused. Yet this is part of what a model is…this is exactly what Jesus did…He showed others His love and His care for them because each person is important, valuable and special to God. Perhaps it is a way that God is helping me to be grateful, because He did the doing, I was just His instrument. Also my saying, ‘Oh yeah’ brings me back to more quiet time and reflection time with the Lord. The scene of the Transfiguration is a favorite. I have been honored to be on six pilgrimages to the Holy Land, just returning from my latest on February 4 and one of my favorite sites is Transfiguration Mountain. If you would ask me why I like it..well before this year I would — say a number of people shared with me how this place and touching the huge stone on top of this mountain that is now protected by glass made it so special. Or the time that I was above the clouds looking at a clear sky. Or another was celebrating mass at the barren, solemn church. Or another just being able to sit and be still and being absorbed in the holiness, simplicity and beauty of this site. Another would have been when snowcapped Mt. Hermon is visible to the north east some s35+ miles away. In fact many scholars feel that Mt. Hermon is the actual site of the Transfiguration; the site pilgrims go to is Mt. Tabor, referred to as Transfiguration Mountain. So what changed for me this year? Our guide once inside the barren Church explained the site and said to be sure to go next to the entrance on either side to see the tiny room/chapels, one in honor of Elijah and the other in honor of Moses. I had never even heard or seen these before. I visited these almost hidden chapels and each had a beautiful painting/mosaic in honor of these two great Old Testament figures. An interesting point to note is that both of their ‘deaths’ had unusual aspects. Moses was buried in a place only know by God (Deuteronomy 34: 5-12) and Elijah was talking with Elisha when a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and Elijah went up by a whirlwind to the Lord (2 Kings 2:11). Now in visiting these two ‘chapels’ and gazing on the fresco type paintings, the one for Moses had him with one hand raised, sitting on a rock and holding up a tablet of the Commandments. The one for Elijah had a man, both arms raised with a very confused but awe filled expression on his face. On his left was a rock with an unrecognizable form on it. On his right was the swirling wind, tornado type, but easily could be the ‘whirlwind’ that took Elijah up to heaven. I could not see any figure in the whirlwind. Could the sitting figure be Elisha watching Elijah being taken up to heaven — certainly. Could the form on the rock be Elijah’s mantel that had fallen from him as he rose — certainly. But my first impression was that it was Elijah who was sitting on the rock with the dazed look. I said well, even in the glorious moments, even the great ones do not have an understanding of what God is doing. I have spend some time with this painting/fresco and the reflections have been fruitful. It did not matter if the dazed person was Elijah or Elisha. What it left me with is that everything is about God. God is with us and cares for us. God leads us and helps us every inch of the way. God fills each person with the gifts to reach out to the people in their lives and the grace to touch them and to love them. God takes care of all the particulars, all that each person has to do is to be cooperative and ‘let God be God. I could spend many more hours in front of this painting, maybe someday God may make that happen. But this is the Church of the Transfiguration. The Church is about God touching each person through Jesus and the Spirit. It is about God and God’s total love. Living the Word gives a wonderful conclusion. “Today’s Gospel gives us a glimpse of the Resurrection we celebrate at the end of Lent. Jesus is transformed while at prayer. God visits Him through Moses and Elijah. In a cloud, and with a voice, ‘This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.’ He leaves the mountain transfigured and journeys to Jerusalem to His passion and death. Our journey, like His, is not easy, but we are not alone. Follow Jesus’ example Turn to God in prayer; voice your needs, frustrations, fears, dreams, and desires. Listen for God’s voice: ‘You are My daughter, My son. I am with you.’ Follow Paul’s advice to the Philippians to imitate Jesus.” So I reflect on: • Do I ever reflect that I am God’s beloved son or daughter? What is holding me back? Why am I afraid to spend time with this? God has called me…do I realize that? • What do I hope that God will change in me this Lent? How have I opened myself to God’s presence, grace and love? • One author translated this as “Jesus is my chosen one, my number one draft pick, listen to Him.’ Sacred Space 2016 says, “‘On the mountain’ the three apostles had a favored glimpse of Jesus’ prayer and glory. His prayer here is a conversation with Moses and Elijah. They talked about His Passion and death. This was a down-to-earth conversation about the shape of Jesus’ life. Is my prayer like that?”