Be Strong, all who hope in the Lord.

Second Sunday of Lent (A)
20 March 2011
St. Hilary’s, Chicago

http://www.usccb.org/nab/032011.shtml


As we progress through Lent, as we grow stronger in our desire and ability to follow Christ and His Gospel, we begin to see how difficult being a disciple of the Lord can truly be.

In the first reading, we hear the call of Abraham. God called Abraham to leave everything he knew, everything that gave him identity – his father’s house, family, land – and God asked him to go to a land he “would show” him. That’s it. God didn’t promise him riches, wisdom, fame, or anything else we expect to motivate others. God simply said, politely, “Go, for your own sake,” and Abraham went, not even knowing where he was being led.

Abraham had faith, he trusted in God. He was not perfect, and his faith would continue to be purified and refined as his life continued on. But, he took these first, difficult steps in faith.

When we meet Peter, James, and John in the Gospel, they have already heard the voice of Christ calling them to follow him. They have already taken the first steps, leaving their boats at the sea and following him. Now, Christ calls them to follow him up a mountain as he is about to make his final turn to Jerusalem. It has been difficult. There has been infighting among the twelve. They haven’t understood much of what Jesus has said in his preaching. Peter has been called Satan for tempting Jesus. Yet, they are still called to ascend the mountain, take the difficult road, and follow Christ.

However, it has not been without rewards. They have been with Jesus when he has healed the sick, cast out demons, and performed many other miracles. Peter has been given the knowledge that he is following the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Peter, James, and John have great faith. In following Christ, they have come to know him not as a mere human, but have understood him to be God. Today, for a brief moment, they see briefly behind the veil of their master’s human nature, and see the Light of God, shining from the face of Christ. And, they let this light shine upon them. They let themselves bathe in this glorious light which Moses and the prophets before them saw. And, they hear the ancient voice of the Father, confirming them in their faith. “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him”

But, it is only for a moment that the veil is lifted, that this experience lasts. Then, they see again with ordinary eyes their master and teacher just as he was. Why do they have this experience? Wouldn’t it be great if they were able to stay in that heavenly light forever? This is exactly what Peter wants to do – to set up tents and stay there with Jesus forever. Why must it end, and why must they go down from the mountain? Why can they say nothing about it?

Have you ever been on a retreat or had an experience of prayer which has filled you with light, energy, excitement? Which has enflamed your heart with powerful, inexpressible love of God? Why must it end?!

The gifts we are given by God – whether our talents or treasures, or our experiences of grace and prayer – none of these are meant solely for us individually, but are for the building up of the whole Church. Peter, James, and John have a brief glimpse of the glory of God shining from the face of Christ. It gives them sure knowledge that this is the long-awaited Messiah, hope that they will follow him into his glory, and strength to follow him to the end.

They must have this strength for what God has in mind. They are the leaders among the 12, among all of the disciples of Jesus. In just a little while, Jesus will prophesy a second time that he will suffer and die. Jesus is headed toward Jerusalem, and these men must have faith that not only will he suffer and die, but that, as he promised, he will rise from the dead. They must know he is the Christ whom God has sent, and that all of this is God’s plan.

In our own lives, we all can have great and exceptional moments in prayer. However, these moments are not just for ourselves to help us know Christ. They also empower us to help the whole Church – to console those who suffer, to teach those who want to learn, to pray with those who do not know how. The next few Sundays of Lent, the readings are picked to speak in a special way to those in the RCIA. They are stories about an individual person touched in a unique way by Christ – how their life of faith begins. We’ll see how this changes not only their life, but the life of everyone around them.

Today, let us remember that we have a responsibility to stand beside these elect, to help them grow in their faith. This requires us to be strong in our faith, and to ever become stronger. Oftentimes, this involves trials of our own. But, think of Peter, James, and John as Christ was being led to his death – every human impulse in them telling them to run away, have no association, forget they ever knew the man – and yet, this one experience, this one insight into his divinity, knowing there was truly nowhere else they could turn, for he is the Son of God, and he alone has the words of everlasting life.

“Be strong; let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.” (Ps. 31:24)