|
Their Call, Our Call
This weekend, we hear readings about call:
Abram’s call to leave everything he knew and loved and go with his family to
“a land I will show you.” Here is a man of a traditional, land-based
culture, pulling up stakes and going to a place he knows nothing about, led
there by the voice of God. And Abram is no young fellow, but a man of 75
(probably symbolic, meaning “of advanced age”). We can easily imagine his
neighbors and his family members thinking he is crazy! The gospel passage
relates the familiar, but no less surprising story of the transfiguration of
Jesus in the company of Moses and Elijah in front of Peter, James and John.
The three hear the call of Jesus: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am
well pleased; listen to him.” They are petrified, as we would be, but Jesus
touches them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” Then he charges them not
to tell anyone “until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Since Matthew is writing for a mostly Jewish
audience, we who aren’t Jewish need some help making the connections he has
made. Moses is the great law-giver, receiving the Ten Commandments and other
directives personally from God. Elijah is a prophet, standing up to unjust
leaders within Israel and enemies without. So, the presence of Moses and
Elijah surrounding Jesus emphasizes his continuity with these giants in
Jewish salvation history.
The reading about Abram was chosen because we
Christians (as well as our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters) look to
Abram, later named Abraham by God, as our father in the faith. He responds
to God’s command and then needs to keep listening to figure out what God
wants of him.
This feast has always been seen as Jesus giving
the disciples a glimpse of his glory so that they will have the courage to
face the passion. In the previous chapter, Matthew 16.24-28, and immediately
after this passage are predictions of the passion and crucifixion when Jesus
will be on another mountain. Instead of his garments being “white as light,”
he will have been stripped of his clothing and his face shining like the sun
will have been bruised and bloodied. Moses and Elijah will have been
replaced by the two thieves and he will address his Father, “My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?”
The second reading helps us make the connection
with God's call in our daily lives. Paul writing to Timothy reminds him,
“Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes
from God.” We might reflect on those we know who are suffering this Lent and
see how we might be supportive of them. Is a neighbor newly unemployed? Is a
friend grieving the loss of a loved one?
Surely the parents and children who come to St.
Anthony’s Dining Room in the City are among those who experience hardship.
If you have material or yarn which you no longer need, or a half-finished
baby blanket, you could bring it to my office and I’ll gladly pass it on to
the St. Anthony Stitchers who will use it to make practical and lovely
clothes for the children who come to St. Anthony’s. The group would also
welcome anyone who has time to do some sewing, knitting or crocheting; you
make the items at home and bring them once a month to Good Shepherd,
Pacifica. |
