Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk 

Second Sunday of Lent, Year B – February 25, 2018.

Readings: Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18; Ps 115:10,15-19; Romans 8:31-34; Gospel – Mark 9:2-10.

Theme: The Struggle between Tabor and Calvary!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, as we continue our annual Lenten Observances of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving plus following the Lord in the Stations of the Cross, the Second Sunday of Lent challenges about our faith commitment while urging us to strike a balance between the “Tabor” and “Calvary” experiences in our lives. Metaphorically, “Tabor” represents awesome spiritual experiences and a good life while “Calvary” stands for the trials, tribulations and temptations of this life. We shall reflect on this in the light of the Transfiguration of Lord as spelt out in the gospel while taking appropriate lessons from the pastoral context.

A Resume of the Readings

Our first reading from the book of Genesis (Gen. 22:1-2,9-13,15-18) recounts the faith of Abraham our Father in faith. By faith Abraham obeyed God and willingly led his only son to the slaughter. Because he passed the test of faith, God provided a ram which Abraham used as a burnt-offering unto the Lord. Ordinarily, one would wonder the reaction of Isaac after his father untied him. Remember that the boy had asked his father about the item to be scarified and the father responded: “God will provide” – Indeed, the Lord provided which closes any chapter of acrimony or dispute between Isaac and his father. This scenario is a pointer to the fact that faith demands that we make very costly decisions about family, friends, career and even our own lives. Worthy of note is the fact that Abraham did not run away from God like Jonah when God demanded what was very dear to him.

Toeing the same lane, in the second reading (Romans 8:31-34), St. Paul insists that God did not spare his own son but gave him up to benefit us. I am pretty sure that it was a hard decision for God to give his only begotten son (John 3:16) for our sake. Unlike Abraham who was given a ram as a fitting substitute for his son because God did not want the blood of a human being, no substitute was found for God’s son. As such, in obedience of faith, Jesus paid the supreme price by dying to save us. This is why St. Paul stresses that, “With God on our side, who can be against us?” Well, the scripture attests to the fact that with God on our side, we shall do bravely (Ps. 60:12). However, the challenge is whether contemporary Christians are ready to sacrifice their time, treasure, talent and even their lives like Abraham and God – that is the struggle between “Tabor” and “Calvary” which the gospel challenges us about.

In the Markan text, the gospel (Mk 9:2-10) discloses the events of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Peter, James and John were led up by Jesus to Mount Tabor to prepare their minds for the bitter events of Calvary. Although the bible says, “No hear has heard and no eyes has seen what God has prepared for his elect,” (1 Cor. 2:9) Jesus wanted the first set of disciples whom he called to have a glimpse of what heaven looks like; so that by the time the bridegroom is taken away from them and trials and persecution set in, they can endure. 

Although St. Mark doesn’t mention it, we can be sure that Peter’s mesmerisation in saying “let us build three tents…” reveals the reality of heaven as a magnificent experience. The voice of the Father and his dazzlingly white clothes representing the Holy Spirit reveals what I call “A Trinitarian Romance” and divine endorsement of Jesus as the Messiah sent by God. The appearance of two dead people, Moses representing the Law and Elijah, representing the Prophets, not only demonstrates that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets but that the dead shall rise again in heaven. However, it is curious to note that although he warned them not to discuss the matter openly, they had talked about it amongst themselves wondering what rising from the dead could mean – how slow were they to believe – was the presence of Moses and Elijah not enough evidence?      

Practical Lessons

1. Just as Abraham our Father in faith gave up his only son to be scarified to God, God is daring you today in these words: Can you sacrifice your precious time, talent (ingenuity/genius), treasure (cars, jewelleries, shoes, fat bank account), pleasures (expensive drinks, sexual gratification) and even your life in service of me?  

2.  Just as Abraham was faithful to God by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, are you ready to follow Christ come rain, come shine?

3. Like Isaac who was tied to be killed yet stayed back to watch his father sacrifice the ram that was provided; are you willing to endure the pain of betrayal and persecution by loving those who hate you and praying for those who persecute you?

4. Are parents willing to sacrifice their children to the Church to work as priests and religious and are children willing to cooperate with their parents as Isaac did to his father?

5. When we face mid-life crisis and our finances are dwindling, do we associate it with the experience of Calvary from where the promise of new life for us and our loved ones is assured? 

6. Are we easily mesmerised like St. Peter to insist that life always provides us with “A Tabor Experience” instead of realizing that “The Experience of Calvary” too awaits us?

7. Are we not guilty of always expecting signs and wonders while forgetting the “tabor experiences” which Jesus provides for us through the sacraments?

8. Aren’t there Christians who are still in doubt about the reality of heaven or hell despite the testimony of Peter, James, John and St. Mark from whose gospel we read that the dead, namely Moses and Elijah appeared to the apostles on Mount Tabor?

9. Does the Season of Lent not provide us with the requisite tools such as fasting, prayer and almsgiving for fighting the devil in our struggle between “Tabor” and “Calvary?” 

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. Metaphorically, “Tabor” represents awesome spiritual experiences while “Calvary” stands for the trials, tribulations and temptations of this life.

2.  Faith demands that we make very costly decisions about family, friends, career and even our own lives.

3. Peter, James and John were led up to the mountain to Mount Tabor to prepare their minds for the bitter events of Calvary.

4. Unlike Abraham who was given a ram as a fitting substitute for his son, no substitute was found for God’s son.

5. The appearance of two dead people, Moses representing the Law and Elijah, representing the Prophets, not only demonstrates that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets but the fact that the dead shall rise again in heaven. 

Conclusion

This Sunday presents us with the chance to reassess our daily struggles in the light of “Tabor” and “Calvary.” The message is clear - we cannot remain on the mountain of earthly pleasurable delights for long because either nature or the devil can stand on our way. If only we can fix our gaze towards heaven, God is able provide us with the necessary graces to endure the pangs of Calvary so as to be happy with him in heaven. May the season of Lent open doors for us which were never open realising that our “Calvary” is short-lived. Amen – Have a great week ahead.

NB: I wish to congratulate the Bishop, Priests and Religious and Laity of Bauchi Diocese as they converge for their 2^nd General Assembly tagged: “Building a Sustainable Church in Bauchi Diocese: Challenges and Prospects” from February 27 - March 2, 2018 at the St. John the Evangelist’s Cathedral & Fatima Pastoral and Social Guest Inn, Bauchi in that order.

May God bless our speakers: Very Rev. Fr. Sylvester Dagin who will speaking on the main theme: “Building a Sustainable Church in Bauchi Diocese: Challenges and Prospects;” Mr. Michael Magaji who will delivering a paper on: “Income Generation and Financial Prudence/Management: Towards Building a Sustainable Church” and Very Rev. Fr. Lawrence Dim whose paper is titled: “Nurturing a Responsible Christian Faith in the Modern World. May God grant us fruitful deliberations and help us to implement the outcome of the assembly!