Reflecting on the Word

By Rev. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.

Two of today’s readings take us up a mountain. Mountains are sacred places in the scriptures. Moses meets the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob on  Mt. Sinai. Elijah has an experience of this same life-giving God on Mt. Horeb.  Today Abraham goes up Mt. Moriah in obedience to God’s command to “take  your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love” (Genesis 22:2) and offer him there  as a holocaust. 

It is hard to get past this reading today and focus only on the story of the  Transfiguration. This story of God testing Abraham to see if Abraham will obey is a  story of great anguish. “See” is an important word here: Moriah means “the place  of seeing.” Abraham responds to Isaac’s question about a victim, saying God will  provide, a word rooted in the Latin word for seeing. God will see to it that there  is a victim, just as God will see that Abraham is obedient in all things. 

Seeing also takes place on Mt. Tabor. Peter, James, and John see Jesus in glory,  his clothes dazzlingly white; they see him speaking with Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets; and they see a cloud overshadowing them,  and hear a voice calling for their obedience: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to  him” (Mark 9:7). 

With them, we are invited to see Jesus as the beloved Son whom the Father  “did not spare . . . but handed over for us all,” as Paul reminds us (Romans 8:32).  The mystery of the Cross and Resurrection is an invitation to see God’s love for  all God’s beloved children and trust in it. 

Consider/Discuss

  • How is there continuity between the God described in Genesis and  God in today’s Gospel? 
  • Have you had any glimpse of the glory that awaits those faithful to  God? 

Responding to the Word

God of Abraham and Sarah, of Isaac and Rebekah, of Jacob and Rachel, God  and Father of our Lord, give us a glimpse of the glory that you have prepared for  all who trust in you and remain faithful to you. Strengthen us to walk through any  darkness that may threaten our ability to believe.

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