Every Second sunday of Lent, the gospel, usually a passage of the Transfiguration of Jesus reminds us that to be transfigured we must first pass through the way of the cross, placing our faith in the hand of God. And that is where the problem lie: we want glory but disdain the cross! We all want to enjoy but detest suffering. We want to ascend the mountain of transfiguration and say like Peter: ‘it is good for us to be here’, but we fear the mount of agony, where we shall wish the cup of suffering be taken away. My fellow pilgrim, if Jesus passed through that way, we also can because He is with us. And if God is with you, no one, except you can be against you! Yes, you heard me well. If you still find it hard to understand, read slowly…
Romans 8:31-34
With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God, the word of God you just read is an assurance from God not to deny us anything we need to complete our Christian race to salvation. Is your problem material needs? Yes, you won’t lack it! Is it spiritual needs? Yes, you won’t lack! Is it freedom- both physical and spiritual freedom? Yes, you can’t be in any bondage or accused by any demonic or satanic covenant! This is ridiculous you say. What about those christians with wallowing in these problems? I say to you: don’t go there even! Don’t even try to use their problems or your own present ugly situations as mockery on the Word of God?
2. If you are serving God and you are held bound in some spiritual bondage or difficulties, check very well, you have a hand in your problems: either directly or indirectly! When you abait or allow certain things to happen in your life because you chose to be ignorant rather than acquire knowledge; when you chose fear rather than faith- fear of man rather than fear of God; when you chose a carefree or easy life rather than hard work; when you chose disobedience to obedience, or impiety to righteousness, you gave suffering access to your life!
3. Abraham, like us, have reasons to refuse sacrificing Isaac his only Child. If you ask those seeking the fruit of the womb today to hear their responses, if they have the heart of Abraham or of Hannah, who were ready to give up entirely all they had received, many would say yes out of desperation but when the demand is made of them, they would fail. (Let me say this: when couples in a childless marriage begin to see themselves as these personages- Abraham and Sarah-, their miracles are close by; they are blessed with child surprisingly). Abraham ascended the mountain Moriah with a deep heart in obedience to God and with faith, and for this singular act of obedience of faith to the voice of God (even when there are no rational grounds for him to act according to the voice of God), God blessed him and his descendants for ever.
4. The same voice of God on mount Moriah to Abraham, not to kill the child Isaac (Gen 22:12) still resounds on mount Tabor of the transfiguration, saying: ‘this is my beloved Son, listen to him.’ (Mk 9: 7). This Son, our Lord Jesus tells us as he told Peter, James and John: ‘tell no one until the Son of man should have risen from the dead’ (Mk 9:9). To us who live in the post-resurrection era, we have no choice than to do the needful: we have to announce it! And I say to you once more: if Jesus passed through the way of the cross (because his Father did not spare him like Isaac who was spared), we also can pass through that way unharmed because God is with us. And if God is with us, who can be against us? No one! No one can oppose you except you! If you have a problem, then you are your own problem- you are against yourself!
TASK: Now reassure your faith in God once more repeating these words: Oh God, I know you are with me always, give me the grace to remember always that I can do all things through Jesus Christ that strengthens me. Amen. (Phil 4:13)
