Faith (Sunday, Lent 2, Year B)

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INTRODUCTION

Through the scriptural readings, the Lenten period gives us a roadmap of the Christian journey. The Christian journey is a journey of tests, trials and temptations. But with faith, we are more than conquerors.                


REFLECTION

Last Sunday, Mk. 1:12-15 tells us that the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. This Sunday, Gen. 22 tells us that God tested Abraham by telling him to take his only son, whom he loved, to a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice to Him. Jesus was TEMPTED in the desert; Abraham was TESTED on the mountain. Before we go further, let us see if we can make a clear distinction between TEMPTATION and TEST. The two words may appear to be synonymous but the difference comes out more clearly when we look at them from the point of view of what they intend to achieve: a TESTER (God, in the case of Abraham) hopes for the tested person to succeed; but the TEMPTER (devil, in the case of Jesus) hopes for the tempted person to fail. We can be more positive by seeing our challenges and struggles as tests not as temptations, maybe God wishes to strengthen us through them. But the devil obviously wishes to see us fail and drowned by our challenges.   


The first reading gives an account of the testing of Abraham by God. We call Abraham our father in faith. But what did Abraham do that qualified him to have that title? Simply, he obeyed God even when it was nearly impossible to obey. We are very conversant with a song: “Abraham’s blessings are mine…” often sung when people are seeking favors from God or claiming God’s blessings. Now, whenever I hear that song being sung by people, the impression I get is that many people seem to want Abraham’s blessings but are not interested in following the path that Abraham followed before those blessings came to him. hhich path did he follow? The path of faith!


Abraham lived for many years without a child, yet he trusted God. As at the age of 75 and beyond when he was leaving Haran to a land he did not know, Abraham and his wife Sarah had no child. Imagine the crisis they must have gone through! But Abraham trusted God. As old as he was, Abraham was told to leave his native land Haran, his comfort and convenience to a land that would be shown him. Yet, he trusted God! Abraham was told to sacrifice that same child, his only child, which was given to Him at his old age. I don’t know how he received the news, but he still trusted God! The letter to the Hebrews (cf. 11:13) tells us that “Abraham and other ancestors in faith died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and accepted them”. This is a little about the faith story of Abraham whose blessings all of us are claiming. Abraham did not obey God just because he wanted God’s blessings. His wasn't a conditional obedience.


You see, many of us may still have to unlearn and relearn what faith is all about. Faith is the stamina needed for the Christian journey. It is only a person of faith that can obey the voice of God as He leads us through very difficult paths. Faith is our capacity to obey even when there is no material reason to obey. Without faith, the Christian journey becomes much more tortuous and unbearable. Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He could not spent 40 days in the desert without FAITH. Abraham went up the mountain to be tested by God. He could not obeyed God who told him to go up the mountain and sacrifice his only son whom he loved if he didn't have FAITH.


From the examples of Abraham and Jesus, I have learnt that FAITH is tested and reinforced in the desert of temptations and on the mountain of ordeals. And that is why it was necessary for Jesus to lead Peter, James and John up a high mountain. It was very necessary that Peter, James and John should go through the Transfiguration experience because they would soon take up very serious responsibilities in very difficult situations. The transfiguration experience strengthened their faith and prepared them to courageously face what lay ahead: crucifixion, death, persecution and glory. With faith and endurance, they journeyed on – never giving up. On the mountain, they had a spectacular experience of glory and beauty. Awed by that glory and beauty, Peter suggested that they want to remain there. But immediately a voice came from the Father: “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him” – obey Him.


My own "mountain" or "desert" could be in the form of being battered by uncertainties of life; or being sorely afflicted as Job was; or experiencing a truly devastating loss of somebody or something very precious to me. In times like that, will my faith sustain me? Will it be easy for me to continue to listen to Jesus or obey God just as Abraham did? Those times are the moments of real test of faith!



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