by Rev. Herbert Nichols

There is a progression through the Scriptures of Lent beginning with the story of Noah and New Creation and the invitation to seek and follow along the paths of trials and tribulations to promise and fulfillment. This week's readings are marked by contrast.

They are stories, which take us to two summits, and ultimately point to a third which is actually the first. There is the story of Mount Moriah of Abraham's nightmare. Centuries later Moraih would be known as Calvary the site of the ultimate nightmare. The gospel tells of the intervening story of the promise and joy of Jesus' transfiguration on Mount Tabor.

In all three cycles of this second Sunday of Lent we read of Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham--- a name change is always of great significance in ancient times. Abraham meant literally the father of many peoples, but Abram was old, and his wife barren. But God asked them to leave their home in what is present day Iraq, and cross that challenging desert. Decades passed before the promise was fulfilled.

This mysterious God was different from the neighboring Canaanite gods who were many and demanded human sacrifice. Then to his surprise and shock, Abraham is asked obedience and trust, even to the point of sacrificing his only son, his only heir, his only link to the promise of God's fulfillment. How could this be happening?

In the second reading St. Paul reminds Timothy and us who read the letter: Obedience to the gospel will bring suffering and heartache to those who strive to live it fully; but if God is for us who can be against us? Paul underscores four areas of caution:

Suffering is a consequence of attempting to live the gospel in a world that sees it too idealistic or antagonistic -- impossible or undesirable -- but centuries have proven that argument groundless.

The second point is that whatever hardships we endure or good that we are able to do are not payment for grace. They are a free gift of God that cannot be earned. Many continue to wonder if they are "in" good enough with God; perhaps they could do more and earn more favor.

The nature of God's love is not contingent with earning it. He earned. He alone can earn it by his cross. One day when we see God face to face we will understand how mixed our motive were and realize how simple they could have been.

The third point focuses on our efforts to do good, and even better. These arise spontaneously not from our own will but from the response of our spirit to the unconditional love of God.

It is the nature of God to love spontaneously, unconditionally and without limit. This is the revelation of Jesus.

In the gospel we find the image of the transfiguration of Jesus--symbolic of our own transfiguration--like that of Abram to Abraham--trusting with open hands--open mind--open heart--and receiving far beyond the limits of his imagination.

Though God ultimately spared Abraham's only son, the son of God was not spared. In the garden of Olives Jesus prayed for deliverance. Like all human beings Jesus wanted to live. He loved his life as dearly we love ours. But Jesus got his priorities right

The cup of bitterness and heartache, of rejection and betrayal would not be easy to swallow. But He recognized God's will and what was worth dying for. And this might be the fifth and most important point we could add to Paul's advice to Timothy