Be a blessing…
Scripture:
Genesis 12:1-4,
2 Timothy 1:8-10,
Matthew 17:1-9.
Reflection
Dear sisters and brothers,
Let us read from the book of Genesis (Genesis 12:1-4) for our reflection today:
The LORD said to Abram:
?“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk? and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.??“I will make of you a great nation,? and I will bless you;?I will make your name great,? so that you will be a blessing.?I will bless those who bless you? and curse those who curse you.?All the communities of the earth? shall find blessing in you.”
Firstly, the call was not easy for Abraham.
Because people move or make a choice for various purposes and reasons.
But then the call of Abraham is not for a job.
It is not for money.
It is not for pleasure.
It is not for power.
It is not for authority.
God called Abraham for a purpose and he calls us too for a purpose, as we read in (2 Timothy 1:8-10):
“He saved us and called us to a holy life,? not according to our works? but according to his own design.”
What is the purpose then?
For Abraham, it was to be a blessing not only for himself, but also for everyone.
We too are called to be a blessing not only for ourselves, but also for others.
The call of Abraham is a wonderful experience for each one of us to understand our own call.
Secondly, this call was a challenge for Abraham.
Why do I say that?
Because he had to leave his land.
He had to leave his parents, relations, near and dear ones.
It was not easy for Abraham and it may not be easy for us as well.
It is a tough decision to make.
But Abraham chose to give importance to God’s Word.
He listened to the Word of God.
He followed the Word.
We are called to listen to the Word all the time.
Thirdly, this call was unknown.
Abraham had not gone anywhere from his birthplace, till the call from God to move away.
Venturing out to the unknown place was not easy for Abraham, and it is not easy for anyone of us too.
Even though it was an unknown place, Abraham trusted in the Lord, who called him to be a blessing.
We need to trust in his providence and his presence everywhere.
We are called for the same.
We may think that after following Jesus Christ, we may experience a smooth transition in our lives (remember James and John requesting Jesus to be at his right and left when he comes into his Kingdom).
In reality, it is not so.
It is filled with rough times and spaces.
It was experienced by the followers of Jesus Christ and we are not exempted from it.
Keeping this idea in his mind, Saint Paul writes from his experience to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:8-10):
“Bear your share of hardship for the gospel? with the strength that comes from God.”
The transfiguration is such an assurance given to the disciples of Jesus Christ, to strengthen their call, to witness a life of being a blessing..
Remember that just before the transfiguration Jesus asked his disciples: who do the people that he is?
Finally, he asked them what do they think about who he is?
Peter gives the right answer that he is Christ the son of the living God.
Jesus appreciates him.
Then proceeds to warn them and prepare them for his unavoidable suffering, death, and resurrection.
But Peter is so unprepared for this that he protests visibly.
He takes Jesus aside and begins to rebuke him.
“Never, Lord!” he says.
“This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus sharply corrects him, telling him that he is seeing things from a purely human point of view (Matthew 16:13-23).
Here, on this Mountain, Peter and the disciples needed a vision from God’s point of view to see that God is still with him, God is still in control of events, and God will see to it that in the end, he triumphs over his foes despite the sufferings, and death hanging over the head of Jesus.
The transfiguration is that experience, where God showed his abiding presence with his Son Jesus Christ, as we read (Matthew 17:1-9):
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
What Peter and his fellow disciples saw, was a vision from God’s point of view!
It was a need of the hour for the disciples.
The disciples’ fear disappeared when their eyes were opened at the transfiguration and they saw his master, Jesus Christ, filled with the glory of God’s presence.
And Jesus turns to them and says, “Get up now, stop being afraid.”
Every time we celebrate the holy season of lent, we experience a moment of transfiguration.
Today, may the assurance of God’s loving presence be with us, and take away all fear from our hearts, and strengthen us now, to get up and stop being afraid to face the challenges, trials, and sufferings in our lives, so that we can be a blessing to ourselves and others, with courage, in the name of Jesus Christ.
May the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen…
