Reflection by Deacon Russ for 2nd Sunday of Lent

Our readings this week tell us two stories in which the main characters must have wondered just what in the world was going on. In our first reading from Genesis, we hear the familiar story of the sacrifice (or near-sacrifice) of Isaac. The story really doesn’t tell us much, at least as to what Abraham was thinking. We really just get the externals. Abraham received a command from God to do something incredibly outrageous, violent and completely contrary to what Abraham would want or would choose. The story simply shows Abraham willing to carry our God’s request, without even questioning.

I think it would be wrong to presume that Abraham was willing to fulfill this request without having any concerns, doubts or a heavy heart. He probably had all of those things. And almost certainly, God’s command made no sense to Abraham. Why in the world is God asking this of me? What could possibly make him want something like this? Doesn’t he care about me? Doesn’t he care about my son? What kind of a God would ask such a thing? My guess is that, as he made that climb, those very sorts of questions filled his heart and mind.

The Gospel story of the Transfiguration also presents a situation in which the people in the story could not possibly have understood what they just experienced, and just as importantly, could not have understood the why behind the events that had unfolded before their eyes. My guess is that they were completely dumbfounded by what they had seen and heard, but we get a few details that help us, the listeners, know what was going through the minds of Peter, James and John. It says that they hardly knew what to say because they were so terrified and that they came down the mountain “questioning what rising from the dead meant.” In other words, they appear to have left that day more confused and more uncertain about this man whom they had been following.

And yet, despite all their doubts, bewilderment and fear, both Abraham and the disciples did not let their concerns become an obstacle preventing them from doing what God was asking of them. They didn’t allow their lack of understanding or inability to see the big picture paralyze them into doing nothing. Abraham was willing to do the one thing he dreaded the most. The disciples were willing to leave behind so much and were able to simply continue following Jesus no matter where it led. Both could have made a different choice, and we probably wouldn’t fault them for it. Abraham could have refused God’s request and the disciples could have gone back to their own towns and families thinking to themselves, “This is just too much – too confusing, too demanding, and too scary.” But they didn’t. They somehow stayed the course and fought through the doubts.

Both of these stories illustrate a great truth about striving to live a life of faith. No matter how much we would like things to be different, the fact is we will never be able to make complete sense of our lives, our experiences, our paths, our relationships, our struggles and failings, our successes and triumphs. We just can’t. There will always be some things that don’t quite make sense to us, that we can’t fully explain, things that may not always fit neatly into who we believe God is and who we are as his beloved sons and daughters.

That’s really one of the tests of our faith – not what we do when things are wonderful, but what we do when choosing God’s way just seems way too difficult, too unreasonable or too perplexing. And that provides us with something to think about this Lent, as we evaluate our relationship with God and with each other. Do we have faith enough to do the tough things God asks - loving unconditionally, forgiving, showing mercy, persevering in times of trouble, being generous - even when it doesn’t make much sense to us, even when we would rather do just about anything else? Abraham, Peter, James and John answered “yes.” Do we have the courage and wisdom and faith to do the same?

If you have a brief faith reflection on today’s reading that you would like to share, please send it to me at deaconruss@holyspiritunoh.org.