The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder the moments of revelation and inspiration in our lives in which the Spirit inspires our commitment to the journey of life.
The reading from the Book of Genesis declares the Call of Abram and his migration.
* [12:2] The call of Abraham begins a new history of blessing (18:18; 22:15–18), which is passed on in each instance to the chosen successor (26:2–4; 28:14). This call evokes the last story in the primeval history (11:1–9) by reversing its themes: Abraham goes forth rather than settle down; it is God rather than Abraham who will make a name for him; the families of the earth will find blessing in him.
* [12:3] Will find blessing in you: the Hebrew conjugation of the verb here and in 18:18 and 28:14 can be either reflexive (“shall bless themselves by you” = people will invoke Abraham as an example of someone blessed by God) or passive (“by you all the families of earth will be blessed” = the religious privileges of Abraham and his descendants ultimately will be extended to the nations). In 22:18 and 26:4, another conjugation of the same verb is used in a similar context that is undoubtedly reflexive (“bless themselves”). Many scholars suggest that the two passages in which the sense is clear should determine the interpretation of the three ambiguous passages: the privileged blessing enjoyed by Abraham and his descendants will awaken in all peoples the desire to enjoy those same blessings. Since the term is understood in a passive sense in the New Testament (Acts 3:25; Gal 3:8), it is rendered here by a neutral expression that admits of both meanings. (Genesis, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33, n.d.)
The reading from the Second Letter of Timothy describes the gifts Timothy has received in suffering for the gospel.
* [1:8] Do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord: i.e., of preaching and suffering for the sake of the gospel.
* [1:9–10] Redemption from sin and the call to holiness of life are not won by personal deeds but are freely and graciously bestowed according to God’s eternal plan; cf. Eph 1:4. (2 Timothy, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, the disciples witness the Transfiguration of Jesus.
* [17:1–8] The account of the transfiguration confirms that Jesus is the Son of God (Mt 17:5) and points to fulfillment of the prediction that he will come in his Father’s glory at the end of the age (Mt 16:27). It has been explained by some as a resurrection appearance retrojected into the time of Jesus’ ministry, but that is not probable since the account lacks many of the usual elements of the resurrection-appearance narratives. It draws upon motifs from the Old Testament and noncanonical Jewish apocalyptic literature that express the presence of the heavenly and the divine, e.g., brilliant light, white garments, and the overshadowing cloud. (Matthew, CHAPTER 17, n.d.)
Edward Morse comments that the disciples had no categories to deal with this wondrous encounter. These good men could not have begun to understand this mystery with the information they had now. They would have to wait patiently until they could eventually connect the dots and see the significance of what they had experienced.
Through our life journey, we will encounter mysteries that we do not understand. Some will involve pain, hardship, or injustice. We may be tempted to reach conclusions about them, perhaps even complaining or grumbling. But like Peter, James, and John, listening, trusting, and waiting may prove the better course. Let us not forget that God is trustworthy and good. In His good pleasure, the meaning and purpose behind these mysteries may be revealed to us, perhaps as we gain wisdom and walk further with God. But in the meantime, we must be encouraged by remembering that the reality waiting for us is wondrous, indeed. The juice will be worth the squeeze. Thanks be to God. (Morse, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Listen to Him,” by Leo the Great, 400?-461 A.D.
"A voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. I am manifested through his preaching. I am glorified through his humility. So listen to him without hesitation. He is the truth and the life. He is my strength and wisdom. "Listen to him" whom the mysteries of the law foreshadowed, of whom the mouths of the prophets sang. "Listen to him" who by his blood redeemed the world, who binds the devil and seizes his vessels, who breaks the debt of sin and the bondage of iniquity. "Listen to him" who opens the way to heaven and by the pain of the cross prepares for you the steps of ascent into his kingdom." (excerpt from Sermon 38,7) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 12:1-4 comments that the Lord was totally invested in Abram, not himself. He promised to “bless” Abram even before Abram had done a single thing for him (Genesis 12:2). All God wanted was for Abram to leave home, that place of violence and selfishness, and travel to a new land where he and his descendants could begin a new, grace-filled life.
In a world that is so often based on the give-and-get transactions of business contracts and self-serving relationships, God’s calling can be hard to believe. It can seem too good to be true. But it is true! Your heavenly Father loves you for who you are. He simply wants to bless you. Will you embrace his call and enter his promised land?
“Lord, give me the faith of Abram. Help me to follow you into freedom.” (Meditation on Genesis 12:1-4, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on how Abram’s situation resonates with the blessing of someone who trusts in God like in the Fiddler on the Roof. The three disciples who accompanied Jesus experienced a theophany that revealed Jesus as Son in the Presence of the Law and the Prophets. Friar Jude reminds us to ponder the luminous moments of our journey that have reinforced our trust in God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that through the centuries, pilgrimage of some type is found in many religions. Pilgrimage took the form of the Jewish exodus, Islam’s Hajj to Mecca, vision quests, walkabouts, and classic heroic journeys about leaving home. In the fourth century, many Christians began to travel to Jerusalem. Each century took on a new form; the interesting thing is the spirituality that went behind it. It was an exercise in letting go, a search for wonder, a constant discovery of the new. It kept older religions from becoming staid and expecting God only in the familiar and customary. Pilgrimage accustomed people to change and growth.
You see, we are always disappointed in what we actually have. We are always rushing into the future. The reason we’re rushing into the future is because we’re not experiencing a wholeness in the present. And when we haven’t grasped the present, we always live under an illusion. It is an illusion that the next moment or place is going to be better. When I get around this corner, when I see this church, when I get to Jerusalem, when I get to the hotel—whatever it might be. But pilgrimage helps us see that attitude is essentially wrong. As long as we think happiness is around the corner, it means that we have not grasped happiness yet. Because happiness is given in this moment and this place, and this moment and place are as perfect as they can be. (Rohr, 2023)
We are grateful for those moments of inspiration that come to us as the grace of love, mercy, compassion, friendship, family and in which we praise God and trust His plan for our life.
References
Genesis, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/12?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 17. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/17?1
Meditation on Genesis 12:1-4. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/05/626061/
Morse, E. (2023, March 5). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030523.html
Psalms, PSALM 33. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?4
Rohr, R. (2023, March 5). Always a Perfect Moment — Center for Action and Contemplation. Cac.org. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/always-a-perfect-moment-2023-03-05/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Listen to My Beloved Son. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar5
2 Timothy, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/1?8
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