In this passage from Genesis we start with the very beginning of the story of Abraham, our father in Faith. One of the literary devices Scripture uses to bring out the particular role or importance of different individuals is that their name will changed.  Abram becomes Abraham. Simon became Peter and Saul we know as Paul. This was done to emphasize that God has called them from their old identity to a new one in God’s plan. The heart of the story of Abram is that he trusted in God’s word so deeply that he changed the direction of his life to be true to God’s promise.

In this letter to Timothy the author acknowledges the struggle we all face as we believe and follow the gospel. He also reminds us that we have been called into the light that has been revealed through Jesus that we are set free from the death of sin and live in the forgiveness of God.

This scene on Mt. Tabor also makes its appearance in all the gospels. Jesus is in the company of His disciple who still are learning about who Jesus is and what He has come to reveal. Jesus is seen as comfortable with Elijah and Moses to help them understand that the teaching of Jesus is at one with the Law and the Prophets. They leave this out of body experience filled with questions that will only begin to be answered after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

There is definite subtlety in both the reading from Genesis and the gospel. These readings contain a lesson that is being repeated time and time in our lives. Abram is in prayer and into his heart there come this idea that he comes to realize is the movement of God that challenges him to leave all that he has and go to a land that God has promised for him and his descendants.

Risks and the unknown hold out to all of us threats and fears. When the offer is made to us to change jobs either by another offer or being terminated from our current job we have our questions and uncertainties. What will happen when we leave the known and venture out into the unknown?

Those types of occasions occur all the time. Do I want to take on a position that has more responsibility? What if that opportunity means a change of residence to a place we have never been to and where we know no one? When a relationship has obviously gone bad are we willing to admit that it is over and that we need to go on. The time comes for a decision. Will we risk the unknown or stay with the familiar? When we think about it the parish is facing that uncertainty. With my retirement a new pastor will come on the scene and for me personally the unknown of the world of retirement. Ask everyone who has retired, or moved away from home or gone off to a new school and they will more often respond that transition never comes easy. There are the difficulties and the struggle to make the decision and the struggle to carry it out. So it was with Abram who hears God’s voice and was asked to respond.

We also have the moment of passage from the disciples in the story of Mt Tabor. They were in amazement as to what they had witnessed. All the pieces were not falling into place. They hid their eyes in fear. What were they a part of. The only assurance they had was when it was over when they were able to look up they saw only Jesus. Like the disciple there is the challenge of dealing with the aftermath of God’s presence in our lives. Sometimes the presence of God raises us up to place that overwhelms us. When a child is born and that new lives is placed in the hands of the mother or father all reality is forever changed with the excitement of the present as well as the uncertainty of the future.

There is also the devastation that comes with the death of someone we love. How will we survive? Do we even want to survive? When we had dreams of great success and then find that we do not achieve them. We are at a loss and shattered by our failures. We are embarrassed over what others will say or think. We can be afraid to go on. If only in all those moments that forever change our lives we can look up from our fragility to see only Jesus.

God can come into our lives in different ways. At times His presence will be a call that disturbs our complacency. It is often a call to give up our control. We face the struggle and the pain that comes from the enlightenment that comes our way through the presence of God.

Abram did not begin to make sense out of his call till he left the comfort of his homeland and traveled many miles to a land he never saw. He would be asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. Yet through the struggle and the fear in time he came to the awareness of the God who called him and who was with him.

The disciples would have to accompany Jesus through His passion and death so that they might come to the awareness of the Risen Lord who not only promised eternal life. He also made it possible for us to live in the light of God’s mercy and forgiveness. This journey to new life is marked with pain and uncertainty as well as suffering and sacrifice but if through it all we look up and through the difficulty see only Jesus we like Abram and the disciples will come to know and see all that has been promised by the God who calls us and who journeys with us.

Homily preached at the 11.00 Liturgy Sunday February 17, 2008

  

Reverend William D. Mannion