Listen To Him

If we begin today’s first reading from Genesis, four verses earlier, at the beginning of chapter 15, it seems to me, we have a more understandable episode. The story has elements that are poignant and tender, as well as mysterious and terrifying. The elderly Abram grieves that he is childless and therefore all God’s gifts to him are useless. God takes Abram outside and promises him a posterity as numerous as the stars above. One can almost see God as a father teaching and comforting a child as they gaze together at the starry sky.

The next scene is that of an ancient Eastern contract procedure. Abram provides the slaughtered animals. The contract is sealed when each party walks between the slain animals, calling down upon themselves the same fate should they violate the agreement. Abram remains alone at the gruesome scene, driving off birds of prey. Then "a trance and deep, dark dread fell upon Abram" vs. 12. When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passing between the animal pieces." vs. 17. The fire and flaming torch symbolize God (e.g. burning bush Ex 3:2; pillar of fire Ex 13:21). Only God, not Abram, passes through. For this covenant is a divine initiative, a unilateral pact.

At the darkest, most dread filled moment, Abram’s faith and prayer are rewarded. God himself passes as a flaming torch, as a light in the darkness, as an eternal promise, as a dim and distant precursor of love that will become incarnate.

In Luke’s description of Jesus’ transfiguration, we see Jesus take Peter, James and John up on a mountain to pray. While Jesus was praying his face changed and his clothes became dazzlingly white. Moses representing the law and Elijah representing the prophets, appear speaking with Jesus about his coming passion and death in Jerusalem. Like Abram centuries earlier, Peter and the others fell asleep. Especially in the gospel of Luke, important and intense moments of Jesus’ life are always accompanied by prayer (Lk 3:21; 5:16; 6:12). In this scene, Jesus is preparing himself for the coming ordeal. He is also preparing his disciples. This is precisely the role of this reading today. We too are being prepared to bear our part in the sufferings of Christ.

"Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2) We are Jesus’ disciples, called to spend this period of Lent in his company. Jesus promises a personal transfiguration to each of us but only conditionally. While Jesus’ love for us is, and always will be, totally unconditional, his gift of eternal life depends upon our response and acceptance of his love by fidelity to his commandments.

As God’s love has been so generously poured out upon us at Bethlehem, at Calvary and at Pentecost - let our love also be generous. Let us take the gifts of the sacraments and use them this Lent to grow spiritually. Though darkness and dread, sin and sorrow are only too familiar to us, yet we trust God’s promises. "I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I shall not come to you in anger." (Ho 11:9) Let us heed the Father’s voice from the cloud: "This is my Son, my Chosen One. LISTEN TO HIM".

Sister Veronica