Homily for Second Sunday of Lent

Pam was exhausted after a very stressful week with its many demands at work. With her energy sapped, she decided to go for a walk. Actually, it would be a hike since she decided to hike her favorite mountain trail. Because the trail was muddy, she had to watch her step as well as keep her ears open for sudden and strange noises. She could not be too careful with all the current violence in the news about women being attacked even killed while jogging or hiking alone.

God asked Abraham to take a hike with his son, Isaac. As the story goes, God asked Abraham to take his son whom he loved and offer him up as a holocaust on a height that God would point out to him. So, Abraham and Isaac, who didn’t suspect what the plan was, set out. They had to watch where they walked as they hiked while carrying all that was needed for a holocaust. Isaac was a little apprehensive because he constantly looked around and did not see the animal for sacrifice. He asked his dad where they would find the sheep for the sacrifice. His dad told him not to worry. When they arrived at the spot that God pointed out, Abraham prepared the sacrifice. Was Isaac surprised when his dad tied him up and put him on the make-shift altar! As Abraham raised the knife, a voice was heard. “Abraham, Abraham! Do not lay your hand on the boy. Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” Innocent Isaac also heard the voice. Can you imagine how relieved he was to see the ram in the thicket and hear the voice that spared his life!

Centuries later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John for a hike up a high mountain. When they reached their destination, Jesus stood before the disciples. They could hardly believe what they were seeing. Jesus was suddenly changed. His clothes became dazzling white- whiter than any bleach could make cloth. Then they saw Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. They heard a voice from heaven. “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”  They were terrified and did not understand what they were seeing and hearing. Peter had suggested that they make three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. To make matter worse, Jesus told his friends not to tell anyone about what they saw and heard until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead! What could all this mean? They did not at that time see the connection between the death and resurrection of the Son of Man and the transfiguration they had just witnessed. They did not have eyes of faith. Forty days later Peter, James and John would finally know. Jesus was the sacrifice on the altar of the cross. A sacrifice not unlike the sacrifice that Abraham was to make of his son, Isaac! Finally, they were developing eyes of faith.

These thoughts were going throw Pam’s mind as she hiked the mountain. Danger surrounded her as she watched and listened. She did not want to be a sacrifice that afternoon. Yet, she was thankful that she had eyes and ears to realize that she was safe because she knew that God was watching over and protecting her. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son was proof of his loyalty to God which led to great blessings. Then she realized that she would gladly sacrifice her life to God while enduring all the demands of family and work. She was also developing eyes and ears of faith.

You are asked “to walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.”  Lent is a microcosm of the self-sacrifice you are asked to make not just during Lent but every day beyond Lent and Easter. The goal of Lent is to develop eyes and ears of faith. To see God’s presence in family and co-workers and to listen to their stories of faith. Real love involves sacrifice. Through daily prayer and the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist especially you will come to acknowledge your own total sacrifice with Christ on the cross. You will also know the joy of new life as you are transformed from a life of selfishness to the sacrificial life of love for God and neighbor.

Pam felt good as she hiked back down the mountain. Not only did she see no danger or hear any strange sounds. She was grateful to have eyes and ears of faith to know that she is willing to make the total sacrifice of love as Abraham was willing to make and Jesus made of the cross. What about you? Are you developing eyes and ears of faith?

God be blessed! Now and forever. Amen.