Will You Pass the Test?
Mark 9:7 – Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”  
Genesis 22:16-17, “Because you acted as you did and not withholding from me your beloved Son, I will bless you abundantly.”
Romans 8:31-32, “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but handed him over to us all.  How will he not give us everything else along with him.”

The Liturgy of the Word, prayed at every mass of the faithful around the world is a beautiful gift the Church gives us.  It is a present bestowed on us every day.  As we hear and meditate on the Word, we carefully unwrap this gift to discover what lies beneath.  The living Word speaks to our souls.  The Old Testament reading, the second reading, and the Gospel are all connected.  A spiritual truth is revealed.  It is the ribbon that wraps the gift that is presented to us.  

On the second Sunday of Lent, this is especially the case.  In the first reading, Abraham is called to a great test of faith, “the binding of Isaac,” referred to as Abedah in the Jewish commentaries.  This passage is a preemptive for Christ’s passion.  It shows God’s love for us by sacrificing his Son as the Lord for the new covenant.  Something he spared Abraham.  

Abraham withstood the task in his willingness to give his Son, Isaac, to God.  What is really the meaning of God’s request and the reason?  It is a test to allow Abraham to ask if there is anything in his life more important than God?  What is he attached to that is keeping him from following God and doing his will?  This is something we must ask ourselves if we are to progress in the spiritual journey.  It is a question that needs to be asked continually.  

The second reading is by St. Paul and he asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us? Roman 8:31.  What more do we need?    

What does God give Abraham for his faithfulness, trust and surrender?  He promises because you acted as you did and not withhold from me your beloved Son, I will bless you abundantly. 

This leads us to the Gospel reading of the transfiguration.  The Greek word, transfiguration, means metamorphosis in English.  This transformation is the spiritual journey we are all called to.  The Father shares the divinity of his Son and tells us how we, too, can share in his divine nature by “listening to him.”  Mark 9:7.  This is the abundant blessing we, too, can receive – oneness with God through Christ.  Archbishop Louis Martinez, spiritual author and the first official primate of Mexico, puts this perfectly, “Do you wish to look at the Father?  Look at Jesus.”  

This Lent ask: what am I withholding from God?  Is it my time, talent, money?  Where do I lack faith and trust?  Am I spending time with him?  Am I listening to him?  Am I obeying his commands and His will?  Will I pass the test?  It is a test we must not fail.

Join us on a Lenten Journey thanks to Anne-Louise DePalo.

DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LIFE

“I will establish my covenant with you that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of the flood.” Genesis 9:11.

Do you ever feel like you are drowning? I often find myself being swept away by what seems like a tidal wave in the sea of life. There are times I feel as if I am gasping for air. Other times, I feel as if I am just treading water. I am not moving forward. In our lives, we encounter crushing waves, being dragged down into the deep, and just treading water.So, what do we do? Where do we turn when we receive crushing or devastating news? Perhaps we realize our marriage or relationship is broken beyond repair. Perhaps we have lost a loved one or lost a job. At times such as these, we are often filled with confusion, fear, and anxiety about the future. In essence, we are drowning. 

How does one stay afloat? 

1. Stop fighting and going against the current. Swim along the side of it. The more you fight, the further under you go, and the further you deplete your energies and resources. 

2. Allow someone to rescue you by giving you a life preserver to grab onto, buoying yourself up so you can get to shore.

3. Have a trained lifeguard, or strong swimmer, swim out to us and carry us to shore. 

Each of these can be applied to our own lives.The Sunday bible passage of Genesis, Chapter 9, recounts the story of Noah, and God promises Noah that He will never again destroy us by a flood. This is a covenant He has made with us. Christ makes a further promise that in times of trouble, seek Him and He will rescue us as He is our Savior.

So, when you are caught in a riptide, ask yourself, “Am I fighting, kicking and screaming, not accepting what is happening?” Are you going against the tide? Are you thinking you going it alone and not surrendering to His love and providence? 

When you need a life preserver are you asking for help? Are you praying for support, courage, discernment? Are you asking God to send people into your life who can help you and then accept their advice and helping hand? For example, are you seeking an attorney, a therapist, a health provider if you are ill, a priest, a financial advisor, a support group or a good friend? If you are you can no longer tread water and stuck are you looking for the lifeguard who is swimming toward you? Are you meeting him half-way. Are you aware of God’s covenant with you? Are you acknowledging Him? Are you participating in His covenant?

So, again, I ask the question, what do you do when you are drowning? Surrender, ask for help, take it, and pray to God. Look for the lifesaver. He is there. You need only to hold on for dear life. Do not let go, and Christ will bring you to shore.