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?