Second Sunday of Lent - C February 28, 2010

Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18 Philippians 3: 20 - 4:1 Luke 9: 28-b-36

The other day, someone who knows me well asked me what projects there would be around the parish ground this coming summer. As the snow annoyingly persists, but the days grow longer and we look forward to says of t-shirts and shorts, of warmer temperatures, and time spent outdoors, it helps to deal with now to think of what will be.

One way to appreciate the message of God to us, today, in the passages from Scripture that were read is to see them as suggesting a similar idea, as a vision of what can and, hopefully, will be. This is especially true in considering during this season of Lent a project or a or a goal of understanding the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the importance or impact it can and ought to have in our lives and how we can reflect that understanding in our day to day living.

A vision is held out to us of Abram. Those who can trace themselves back to Abram in some way, as the vision portrays, are among those who are as numerous as the stars in the sky. In fact, the three great monotheistic religions of the world, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, all look to Abram, or Abraham, as our common ancestor in faith. His great insight in history, as it is understood, is that he proclaimed and professed, as opposed to those around him, that there is but one God. It is a vision that is, that has come to be, a reality in us, in our world.

Along with Abram’s vision, we also heard the story of the vision of Peter, James and John. It was a vision of one whom they have known in ordinary circumstances now being viewed in a glorified state, along with the great representatives of their Faith, Moses representing the Law and Elijah representing the Prophets. They stand for the covenant relationship with God that existed between God and those Chosen People of which Peter, James and John were a part. The vision held out to them was of what can be, what will be if they invest themselves, invest their lives, by listening to the chosen son of God.

This is the vision that is put before us today. How do we bring about what is now a vision? Like a summer project, how will it happen, how will it come together, how will it be achieved? We are urged, by the message of the Scriptures, to consider how it will be that our lives, our living, will be affected, will be improved, by a better understanding of the fact that Christ died on a cross, and by the fact that he overcame death by rising from the dead?

A vision, like a project, is a hope that is held out. But for it to be accomplished, achieved, certain practical actions are needed.

I have often summarized what I consider to be the reality of living as involving three relationships: God, others and self. What steps, particular and individual steps need to be taken? What disciplines or practices need to be incorporated in our living? What intermediate goals need to be accomplished? Those questions must be considered in order to enhance our relationship with God which is an acknowledgment and recognition of the importance of the Divine in our lives. Those questions must be considered in order to enhance, to better our relationships with those who are important, those who are encountered and dealt with on a day to day basis. Those questions must be considered in order to enhance the respect we have for our individual selves, our own dignity, worth and value as part of creation, as one who is to be a reflection of God.

A valuable insight, a suggestion along these lines can be found in the thought of Saint Paul that we also heard today. We are called to consider ourselves in some way as conformed, made to be like, the glorified body of Christ, the presence of Christ. The revelation of Christ, who Christ is in the world today is to be found in us. Who Jesus is not found simply by going back into the history of then, who Jesus is today is to be found in us, in each one of us individually, and in all of us together, as we are joined together in Faith, as we are committed to Faith.

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross signals for us the possibility that all that has held us back from the potential that is ours as reflections of the goodness of God has been overcome. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, and his presence continued in and through and with us emboldens us to realize and to implement a new view, a new perspective, a new vision.

If we stand firm in our vision of the Lord, if we stand firm in the commitment of Faith, convinced of the impact and possibility of Divine Love expressed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then what we can be and what we will be will reveal and will reflect the goodness of our loving and gracious God.