Second Sunday of Lent - March 5, 2023

-

Genesis 12:1-4a 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 Matthew 17:1-9

I’ve never really understood this “in tents” story. Peter, along with James and John - “sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17) - hike up a mountain with Jesus, who is transfigured, then God speaks from a cloud! Let’s unpack this a bit: Why Moses and Elijah? Both had famous experiences with God on a mountaintop (Exodus 24:9–34:35 and 1 Kings 19:8–18). OK, so God brings Moses and Elijah back.

Peter’s first reaction? Build three tents! What’s he thinking? Scholars say Peter was not referring to ordinary campsite tents. The Greek word translated as “tents” refers to crude shelters the Hebrews called a sukkah (“sook-kah”), with roofs of willows, palm trees, and other leafy trees (Leviticus 23:40-43). Easy to build and take down - the Israelites used these as they wandered the desert. God even gave Moses instructions for an annual 7-day festival where the Israelites were to build sukkot and pray (Leviticus 23:33-44). Jesus and His disciples attended this festival once ( John 7:1-37). Jews to this day build these simple structures on their patio or backyard deck and gather in them for meals during the festival.

So, Peter thinks I’ll build three tents to pray. “Hold on, Peter!” God says. And as Peter was still speaking a bright cloud came overhead and God spoke: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.” At this, the three apostles fell down “very much afraid.” But, Jesus says: “Don’t be afraid.” Then, as they hiked down, Jesus tells them not to talk about what they just saw until He’s been raised from the dead.

Sometime after the Resurrection, Peter must’ve told the disciples: “You’re not going to believe this, but one time, up on a mountain with James and John …”

I am reminded of times that I may have reacted on impulse like Peter without thinking what God was really trying to show me. Usually, I am judging someone too quickly on first impressions. I do this a lot, only to find later that I was wrong. I’ll try to be more patient, not rush to judgment, and ask myself, “what is God really trying to show me here – through this person or event?”

Q: Has there ever been something in my faith or my life in general that I thought was so important and demanding of my attention that I almost missed what God was really trying to show me?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) - April 7, 2023

-
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42  Every morning when I go to Mass and the Priest asks for our intentions for the day, my response is for “wisdom, courage, comfort and trust.” Wisdom to fi gure out the answer, the courage to carry it out, and the comfort that it is the best solution and the trust to know God is guiding us in the best way. When I read the Psalms for today, I was taken back by David’s trust in the Lord to guide him and keep him safe. “In you, Lord, I take refuge”  A good friend coined this prayer when I was helping my parents navigate through my brother’s cancer. He passed away, but I continue to take comfort in those words and try daily to TRUST. Many people have commented on how they appreciate that petition so I continue to pray it.  There are big things and little things that come into our lives that require us to trust as David did. Some things are as small as smiling at the person at the traffic light or as big as standing up for another’s r
Read more

Monday of the First Week of Lent - March 11, 2019

-
Leviticus19:1-2, 11-18  Matthew 25:31-46 As I read my assignment for today, I felt relief. I knew these readings; I could relate to them. I had heard them multiple times and thought that I understood them well. The first reading from Leviticus tells me to love my neighbor as myself and to judge my neighbor justly. I know this! I believe this in my head! I often find it difficult to carry out, but I do believe it. Today’s gospel, Matthew 25, many of us know well through readings, songs, and social concerns committees, "Whatever you do for one of the least of …mine, you do to me." Feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; welcome the stranger; clothe the naked; comfort the sick; visit the prisoner. We try to do these things in our life. I decided to read our parish book, Stranger God by Richard Beck, to see how it could expand my understanding of Matthew 25 – and expand it did! After I read the book, I realized that I had been reading Matthew 25 literally.
Read more

Monday of Holy Week - April 3, 2023

-
Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11  One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more mindful about how I spend my time. When we started having kids, everyone was always telling us, “enjoy it while it lasts because they grow up so fast!” I’d look at my tiny baby and think, yeah okay, we’ve got a long way to go. Fast forward 6 years, we have a kindergartener, and I am constantly asking myself, “where did the time go!?!?”  This Gospel is a reminder to me that I need to take advantage of every moment just as Mary decided to take advantage of that special moment with Jesus when she anointed his feet. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life and fi nd ourselves just going through the motions without putting much thought into the importance of our actions. When I am at church, am I really present? I often fi nd that my focus is on how my children are behaving and if they are disturbing the people around us. When I am at home, am I making the most of my time with my family? Sadly,
Read more