Reflection on Today's Readings, 2nd Sunday of Lent, February 28th, 2021
Texts: Gen. 22:1-2.9-13.15-18; Ps. 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10
Today's first reading is the story of test of faith, test of love, test of obedience, and the renewal of God's covenant with Abraham. The story began with the words, "God tested Abraham". Unlike our first parents who failed their test of obedience to God, Abraham passed the test; he did not fail because he truly loved God, for it is said, "now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only-begotten son, from me.” The fear of God is a kind of love that makes us dread offending God; it makes us stay away from offending God whom we love. Pope Francis says it is "a joyful awareness of God’s grandeur and a grateful realization that only in him do our hearts find true peace” (General Audience June 11, 2014). The fear not to offend God is out of love. Hence, St. Francis de Sales says, "We must fear God out of love; not love Him out of fear." When we fear God, we obey him, and the obedience wins us blessings. Abraham obeyed God and He renewed His covenant with him; for God said to him, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only-begotten son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”
In the letter to the Hebrews, the success of Abraham in the test is attributed to his faith. It is said, "It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. .... He was confident that God had power even to raise the dead" (11:17,19). Faith is important in fearing God and in obeying Him. It is by faith that we know God, and knowing Him, we fear Him and obey Him. Perhaps, if our first parents had passed the test, they would have still had access to the tree of knowledge and evil, and the tree of life, for success in a test comes with promotion, development, growth and renewal as in the case of Abraham. Success in the test of love, test of faith, test of obedience gives way to participation in the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. Put differently, test is the path to transfiguration.
The story reminds us of the love of God for us as He gave us His only-begotten Son, and also established a new covenant in Him. God so loves the world, that He gave us His only-begotten, so that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life (John 3:16). Hence, in the love of Abraham we will see in sign the love that God would lavish on us in Jesus Christ. As God had confidence in Abraham as he did not hesitate to offer Him his only-begotten son, so also we are called to have confidence in God as He gave us His only-begotten Son. St. Paul, in today's second reading, invites us to have confidence in God. We should know that He loves us and that before Him we will never stand condemned. If God will not condemn us, then who can condemn us or be against us? Certainly no one.
While in Abraham we see the greater thing God had in stock for us, in Jesus Christ we see our heavenly glory, what we shall be when we get to heaven. Jesus Christ reveals His glory, the glory we have in Him. Prophet Daniel says, "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever" (12:3). Jesus Himself says, "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear" (Mtt. 13:43). When we have faith in God, love Him, fear Him, and obey Him, the glory Jesus reveals at His transfiguration will be our lot.
We also share from this glory on earth here, to certain extent. This is evident in the life of Moses. It is said, "Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him" (Ex. 34:30). In Ecclesiaste it is said, "Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed" (8:1).
The cloud that covered them is the revelation of God's transcendent nature. This means that they only saw a tip of His glory. Jesus took three of His disciples, Peter, James and John, there to serve as witnesses and to fulfilment the requirement of the law for acceptance of testimony (2Cor. 13:1; Deut. 19:15). This means that the testimony of apostles, which we read today, is the truth and we are to accept the testimony as such.
Lord God, grant that we may live so as to share from your glory; help us to love You, fear You and obey You every day of our lives. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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