Abram put his faith in the LORD,
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.
I attended a church one time that uses no musical instruments. "What do they make of the 150th psalm with its harps, horns, strings, pipes and tambourines?" I asked a companion.
"They don't read the Old Testament." he said.
"Wow."
How could they expect to know Jesus if they don't read the Old Testament? Do they suppose he just appeared out of nowhere, with no preparation, prophecies, or expectations?
Today's first reading from Genesis describes Abraham's encounter with God -- terrifying, exciting, historic. This epiphany, shrouded in the mists of prehistoric legend, is the seed which blossomed on Mount Tabor many centuries later, when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, John, and James.
As Catholic Christians we are privileged to be grafted into the tree of faith, Abraham's descendants. Without that faith there is no salvation.
Hearing this story on the second Sunday of every Lent, we must be impressed by the Voice of Thunder which speaks to us, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him."
Understanding Salvation History as we do, we receive this command as a welcome invitation. The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of this exhilarating freedom, describing first our prior relationship with God, and then our new one:
You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them, for they could not bear to hear the command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.
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| Happy Saint Patrick's Day |
I am loathe to represent the God of Judaism as an arbitrary despot, given to bad moods and eruptions of violence; but I am sure many people experience life in that way. Our expectation of God reflects our experience of life. What child of an alcoholic parent expects God the Father to be reasonable, generous or reliably benevolent? They suppose the Creator of this chaotic world, which is subject to unexpected, unpredictable destruction, is also cruel and vindictive. Some might even point to the crucifixion of Jesus and suppose that the "Father" who would demand such a sacrifice is beyond cruel.
Our faith in Jesus insists that we must know God through him. "Any god of yours is my god too!" we might say. In today's gospel we watch briefly as the Messiah speaks quietly to Elijah and Moses about his exodus in Jerusalem. We know Jesus well enough to know he is no fool. If he trusts God so far as to hand himself over to religious, civil and military authorities and be crucified in a most barbaric fashion, his God must be deeply trustworthy. And we have seen him raised up after he was crucified and hopelessly dead. We must believe in him.
What we have seen is faith, hope and love beyond human comprehension. We can celebrate it. We can believe in it. We cannot explain it. We can only live it.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.