Sunday the 25th of February 2024 - Second Sunday of Lent

Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18/ Psalm 115(116)/ Romans 8:31-34/ Mark 9:2-10

The Old Testament account of Abraham taking his only son Isaac onto a mountain with the intention of killing him as an offering to God sounds completely unacceptable to us. How could a father do this to his own son? As with many parts of scripture it is important to see the message being passed through the word of God rather than being distracted by the detail of the story. One of the messages to us from this passage is the total trust that Abraham had in God. Isaac was the gift from God to Abraham and his wife Sarah long after her childbearing age had passed, representing the continuation of Abraham’s heritage and the future of his people. Even so, when asked, Abraham was willing to offer him back to God as a burnt offering. Abraham’s faith was so unshakable that he was prepared to carry out the will of God no matter what that called him to do. It might well be that inside he hoped for a different ending and through his faith he was indeed granted such an ending. Once it was clear that he would carry out the request from God the demand was rescinded, and an alternative offering presented.

This shocking but also moving story of a father having such a strong faith that he would sacrifice an only son reflects the relationship God the Father has with his only son Jesus. We are given this passage as a reminder of what total faith in God looks like but also, as we approach Easter, what God did for us by offering his only son, Jesus, for our redemption. There was no alternative offering found on Calvery. Jesus was sacrificed on the cross and, innocent as he was, the only son of God, he died the tortured death of a despised criminal.

On the mountain Jesus gave Peter, James, and John a glimpse of his true identity, his glory as God the Son. The presence of Elijah and Moses indicating to the disciples that there is a life beyond death and that Jesus is God of the living and that those long gone from this world are also still alive. As with the events in the river Jordan when Jesus was baptised the Trinity is revealed in the presence of Jesus, God the Son, God the Father, heard in the voice proclaiming, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him,’ and God the Holy Spirit enveloping the scene in a cloud. Through his transfiguration Jesus presents an image of his glory as God and an indication of the life to come after this life on earth is over. It gave the disciples the hope they needed to go through the awful events to come and it gives us the hope and strength we need to bear the crosses we have to endure in our lives.

We are called to a total understanding and acceptance of God’s will for us. The models for us are Abraham and Jesus who both submitted totally to the will of God and in so doing won great favour. In Abraham’s case a nation of people and for Jesus the redemption of humanity. Abraham was not going to spare even his only precious son, and neither was God. In following the will of his father Jesus came through earthly death and rose in his true glory, a glory he allowed Peter, James, and John to see on the mountain. This glimpse of the glory of God gives us the encouragement, we need to continue our Lenten journey through the wilderness of this earthly life towards the glory of our eternal Easter life.

During Mass we come as close to God as possible while still in this life. As the priest raises the consecrated host we can join Peter and say, ‘Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here’. God is saying to us, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ We might also feel some of the fear the disciples felt on the mountain, but it is a fear of awesome wonder that somehow gives us reassurance and not terror. Trusting in God let us seek to always do his will knowing that even though we must suffer and die in this life the everlasting transformed life to come has already been won for us.

God Bless Brendan.