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Man’s undeserved gifts from God are received in faith
and in obedience, as Abraham did (Genesis 12:1-4). The
truth of divine graciousness culminates in the life and
mission of Jesus the Christ and in our fidelity to him
(Matthew 17:1-9).
Summoned
by God
Muslims,
Jews and Christians alike draw inspiration from the saga
of Abraham. For the believers in the one God see the
Almighty acting in history through men and women, whose
response to God in faith makes a difference in the world
by making the divine will a reality in human existence.
An introduction to the story of Israel, Abram’s call
began an era of salvation for humankind.
In the
divine plan, Abram is chosen and directed by God to pull
up stakes and move out to an unknown place he will be
shown. Promises of blessings are made to Abram. God
promises to make Abram into “Abraham,” the father of a
great nation, of many people, like the other nations of
the world. His name will be great, respected by others.
God will bless those who bless him, and curse those who
curse him. But all these blessings are so that Abraham
will be a blessing to others. “All the communities of
the earth shall find blessing in you.” Abram’s family
has been chosen by God and promised blessings, blessings
that will also be shared by others who treat his family
with respect and not with abuse.
A man of
faith
The
divine plan requires profound faith on the part of
Abraham. He is secure in his land of origin as a part of
the patriarchal household of his own father. One does
not move out of the social enclave where one belongs,
except in case perhaps of war or famine. Abraham is
explicitly told to depart from the land of his kinsfolk
and from his father’s house, to travel to a land unknown
to him. The ancients believed that their respective
lands were under the jurisdiction of their corresponding
gods. To leave one’s land is to leave the domain and
protection of one’s gods. The saving truth that Abraham
is now made privy reveals that the One God is the Lord
of all unbounded by any borders and having authority
over Abraham anywhere and anytime.
Abraham
is being asked to uproot himself and sever not only his
family attachments, but also his social and ethnic
bonds. What is demanded of him is nothing short of a
metanoia, a change of identity, a new life; he will now
completely depend on God. God is asking him to start
anew as His man, a manifestation to others of divine
graciousness. And “Abram went as the Lord directed him.”
He took the leap of faith. No questions, no delays, only
total reliance on God’s will.
The
glory of God
Jesus
transfigured on the mountain, on a place where in the
mind of people the divine can be experienced. It was a
self-revelation of God, a theophany, a vision into
Jesus’ glorious identity breaking through for the
benefit of His chosen followers. His inner reality shone
forth and transfigured even His outer appearance, His
face shining brightly and His attire brilliantly. Moses
and Elijah were conversing with Jesus, the
representatives of the Law and the Prophets as the
pillars of the religious tradition of Israel confirming
the authority of Jesus and the legitimacy of His
teaching.
The
voice from the cloud addressed the apostles, “This is my
beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to
him.” They needed both the identification of Jesus and
the directive from God. To be noted, the bright cloud is
said to cast a shadow over the followers of Jesus, and
they were very much afraid as they fell prostrate. This
theophany with a shadow and accompanied by fear is of
the one who shortly before has announced that he would
be killed by his enemies (17:21). The apostles’ wish to
prolong Jesus’ glorious apparition and reassuring
conversation with the ancient heroes of
Israel
could not postpone the need to go down the mountain and
carry out God’s will for the salvation of His people.
Alálaong
bagá,
God has
His plan for our good. He summons His chosen ones, from
Abraham to Jesus, to realize His divine will. The
response to the divine will is pivotal because faith
does not come easy. It demands total openness and
obedience, metanoia and conversion. There is always an
antagonist, as we saw last week in the desert, the
devil-liar who is there to tempt man with instant
gratification and riches and power to stop listening to
God’s Word. The truth of God’s grace as our salvation
comes awkward and unpalatable in a world where it is
momentarily more rewarding to lie than to tell the
truth, to serve some earth-bound masters than to entrust
oneself to One who calls upon us to jump into the dark
in testimony to the truth.
For more of my reflections and works, visit my blogsite:
http://alalaongbaga.multiply.com. |
