Year C

Dec 10 2024

Awakened by the Light

Ever since that night on the mountain, I, John, have been awestruck by light.

Jesus was up the hill in prayer. I drifted in and out of sleep. Peter snored. James wheezed. From the corner of my eye, I saw brightness through the trees. “What is that?” my half-awake brain wondered. I nudged Peter and James. We looked. Jesus was glowing. I thought groggily, “Does he always shine like that when he prays?” We crept closer.

Suddenly, the night sky above the mountain burst into flame as if something was on fire. But nothing was being burned. I was fully awake now! That light emanated from within Jesus, brighter than any light that I have ever seen. Two others were alight there also, speaking with the Lord. Peter mumbled about tents. A thick cloud descended on us. A voice thundered.

It all happened so fast. Then . . . like a mist that lifts from the water, nothing. Just Jesus, still praying. The night felt so dark after that light. I was stunned. I could not speak. The place where we were standing was holy ground.

Now, after all these years, it only takes a sparkle of ordinary light to reawaken that glory. When I see the glistening of the morning, my heart remembers and shivers. As I watch the moonlight on the ocean, my lungs swell with burning. When I look at the stars, so bright, here on this island, I feel as though I could explode with joy. I am no longer half asleep to his radiance; I am fully awake. I see that all that he created is alive with his life, his presence! And his life is the light of us all!

My people tell me that my face glows when I pray. How could it not? I have seen the Light of the world! And the darkness cannot overcome it!

Consider/Discuss

Abram saw the light of the stars and trembled at God’s promise. St. Paul was thrown to the ground and saw the light of Jesus; from then on, he fervently worked for the heavenly kingdom. What glimpses of light have awakened you to God? How have those flashes of glory transformed you and changed the course of your life?
Sleep is good. Deep slumber is healthy. Yet even in darkness, behind our eyelids, we can be awake to the presence of the Lord. As a Lenten training exercise, as you are falling asleep this week, take a few moments to enter into that darkness within you and allow the light of God to shine in your inner space. How does God want to glow within you as you pray?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord, I have been in a bit of a stupor, resting my weary head. Spiritual sleep has threatened to overtake me. Awaken me this day! You are my light and my salvation! Strengthen my eyesight to see you. All that is bright is in you; all that glistens is in you; all that sparkles is yours. Flash! Shine! Dispel my drowsiness! Gleam upon me this day, God of glory!

Dec 10 2024

Scripture Study for

God’s solemn oath to give the land to which he has brought Abram to his descendants takes places within a covenant ceremony well known from ancient sources (see Jeremiah 34:17–20). Ordinarily, each party to the covenant made his oath to the other while walking through the cut-up animals, which represent his fate if he violates the covenant. It is highly significant that here only God (represented by the smoking pot and flaming torch) makes the oath; the story emphasizes that Abram is fast asleep. This makes it clear that this is not an ordinary covenant in which each party takes on obligations toward the other. This is a gracious and unilateral gift from God to Abram’s descendants. Abram’s sole responsibility here is to put his faith in God’s promises, which he does.

Just before the present passage from Philippians, Paul has recounted his own movement from a pious Jew who was a zealous observer of the Law to one who had come to believe that righteousness came only from faith in Christ. He has accordingly given up his former way of life and has accepted suffering for the sake of Christ. He still strains toward the goal of perfect maturity, which is perfect conformity with Christ (3:4–16). It is this striving that Paul would have his audience imitate, seeking always to overcome those desires and attitudes which make one an “enemy of the cross of Christ,” satisfying one’s selfish pursuit of “earthly things.” These things will perish, but the heavenly promise remains forever for those who are willing to strive for it.

Immediately before the scene of his transfiguration, Jesus has warned his disciples of his own rejection and execution (and resurrection) and of their own need to deny themselves and take up their crosses daily (Luke 9:22–27). Transfiguration, which points to glorification, only comes after the cross. Mountains are classical sites of theophanies, and so it is no accident that Peter, James, and John see Christ transfigured on top of a mountain. Jesus is accompanied by Moses and Elijah, who represent the Law and the Prophets, the two means by which God’s will has been communicated to Israel up to this point. Now, however, God tells the disciples to listen to Jesus, who as God’s Son faithfully carries on the work of the Law and the Prophets, but in an even more authoritative and definitive way.

Dec 10 2024

There’s No “I” on God’s Team

Americans don’t necessarily get it. We live and breathe in an individualistic world.

The writings of the Bible, however, arose within the Mediterranean world. In the air that Jesus breathed, each person was embedded in a group. Family loyalty was required. Honor to one was honor to all. There was no “I” in “the team.”

If we think of today’s story individualistically, Jesus and the devil are two boxers in a private sparring match. But no! From a communal mindset, the devil isn’t just asking Jesus to worship him. He is tempting him to switch allegiances. He is conniving to steal the star quarterback! The evil one offers Jesus a rich reward to join his team and honor him as leader. The devil is crafty. He wants to win. He is not just messing with Jesus. He is messing with God’s team.

How will Jesus respond? Will Jesus swap sides for personal power or honor or food? No way. He stands firm. He knows to whom he belongs: “You shall bow only before the Lord,” he says.

The devil goes away “for a time.” But he’ll be back . . . We begin Lent this week. Like Jesus, we head out into the desert. For forty days, we’ll go into training, a good Lenten workout. If we take our exercises seriously, our spiritual muscles will ache where we are weak. Why do we want to be spiritually stronger at Easter? It is not just for ourselves, for our own glory or honor. We are important to God’s team, too. We work together for good in this world. Hatred and evil must not win.

We may be tempted to give up when the training seems hard. The central question of Jesus’ temptation then comes to us as well: Whose team will we choose?

Consider/Discuss

A friend from Rwanda has a strong sense of “us.” She bemoans how her nine-year-old daughter has adopted the mindset of American individualism; her girl does not “get” the sense of family and community within which she grew up in Africa. What kind of family/community identity did you grow up in? How does that affect how you see your place on God’s team?
St. Ignatius says that our impulses come from three places: from evil, from self, and from God. As we wrestle with temptations this Lent, how can we grow stronger in discernment, so that we recognize where our inclinations come from? What kind of “training plan” can we make to create the space to learn to lead a more self-reflective, self-disciplined, and prayer-filled life?

Living and Praying with the Word

God of Gods and Lord of Lords, you are the one to whom we belong. Jesus headed into the desert for spiritual training. This Lent, we follow him into training as well. Help us to take the time to exercise hard enough to get into the game. You know that sometimes we are tempted to slack off, content to sit on the sidelines and just watch your team play. But you are our God, God alone. We want to bring you honor, Divine Coach. Show us how to go. Holy Spirit, teach us how to be strong.

Dec 10 2024

Scripture Study for

As Moses prepares Israel to enter into the land promised to their ancestors, he instructs them to offer firstfruits sacrifices to God once they have entered the land, and to acknowledge that God has indeed been faithful to promises in bringing the people into the land (Deuteronomy 26:1–3). The statement itself has been called Israel’s credo, summarizing as it does the central story of Israel’s relationship with God: the descent into Egypt by Jacob (the wandering Aramean), the oppression and deliverance of his descendants, and their return to the land. This brief recital captures the essence of Israel’s faith in the generous and powerful God who makes—and always keeps—those promises.

The reading from Romans comes from a section of the letter in which Paul is focusing on the contrast between righteousness from observing the Law (perfectly) and righteousness that comes from faith in Christ. His point here is that just as the Law was accessible to Israel (since it was written), so faith in Christ is accessible to all (as long as they have heard the word preached to them [10:14]). Once one has received the word, confession of the lordship of Christ and trust in the proclamation of his resurrection lead to justification and salvation. Justification here means being made “right with God,” and salvation is receiving the gift of eternal life offered by God. This gift is no longer limited to Israel but is now available to Gentiles as well.

In his temptation in the wilderness, Jesus represents both himself and Israel. As God’s Messiah, Jesus faces the temptations to use his relationship with God and his powers to smooth the pathways of his life by avoiding pain (hunger), or commanding the kingdoms of the earth, or even expecting God to save him from danger and death. Jesus shows his humility and obedience by avoiding these temptations. In the Old Testament, Israel is referred to as God’s son (Exodus 4:22–23), a son who failed the test of temptations in the wilderness generations earlier. Through his victory in the wilderness, Jesus not only vindicates himself, but also shows that in him Israel (and eventually all of humanity) can triumph over temptation and sin.

Dec 10 2024

The Life of an Apprentice

We don’t know much about St. Joseph the carpenter. He is quiet in the scriptures. But in the collection of the maxims in Luke’s Sermon on the Plain, we might hear his voice and feel his influence: sound trees, rotten trees, splinters, logs, measures, judgment . . . sounds like lessons from a carpenter shop, doesn’t it?

Imagine Jesus as a three-year-old. He wants to do everything his daddy does. As Joseph planes a board, a shaving falls into the little guy’s eye. The splinter irritates and waters for days before the tears flush it out. He cannot see. Does he learn what it is like to be temporarily blind? Does he worry about falling into a pit?

Imagine Jesus at ten. He is excited about the cedar log that looks so solid, so promising on the outside. It will make a fine bench. Joseph cautions him, “Hold your judgment until you see what’s inside.” When the boy splits into it, is there heart-rot in the core?

Imagine Jesus at thirteen. He wants to rush ahead on his own with a project that he is working on. Joseph slows him down, steadies his hand: “Wait for me. Measure carefully. An apprentice is no greater than his teacher. Listen and learn. One day you will be like me.”

Imagine when Joseph is dying. In his behind-the-scenes way, Joseph had borne good fruit. From the abounding love in his heart, his mouth had quietly spoken. Did the young man recognize the store of goodness in his father’s heart?

Jesus uses the word “Father” a lot. When he prays in the hills at night, he calls on his Father. When he teaches us to pray “Abba, Daddy, our Father,” he begins with an expression of deep tenderness. Did that too come from the carpenter shop?

Consider/Discuss

In the old days, a father taught his son a trade, showing him how to do as he did. Jesus says, “A fully trained disciple will be like his teacher.” The early church fathers suggest we take up that apprenticeship model as we grow in faith. The ultimate holiness is to become like Jesus, to be “divinized.” The saints help to show us how; some are very quiet about it. To whom would you like to apprentice yourself today?
Our world is full of noise. Lots of people are saying a lot of things. How do we know what is true? How do we know what is wise? Sometimes, like Joseph, it is the quiet ones, who live the life and walk the walk, who embody the sayings in today’s scriptures. This week look for “a silent one,” someone you would like to get to know better who could help you toward holiness.

Living and Praying with the Word

Jesus, you don’t want us to live a barren and empty life. You want our hearts to be abundant in kindness and care for others, to keep on giving. You want us to bear good fruit, to keep on loving. You ask us to become like you, to keep on trying. St. Paul tells us to be firm and steadfast, recognizing that our labor for you is not in vain. We surrender our hearts and our lives to you this day. Make us your own, the saints that you call us to be. St.Joseph, quiet and loving, pray for us this day!