[ Today's Readings ]
“I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans
to give you this land as a possession.”“O Lord GOD,” he asked,
“how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
LORD, you want to reveal yourself to us and strengthen our faith.
You promise amazing things. You promise the land of the Chaldeans and numerous offspring to Abraham. Through Jesus you promise still greater things.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Just as Moses leads Israel through the desert so does Jesus lead us through sin and death to everlasting life. But this pilgrimage is only through the cross.
God calls Abraham to leave his comfort zone. Israel is led by Moses from slavery in Egypt. But in Egypt there is at least security. They too must leave certainty behind in favor of a greater freedom.
Jesus, you call us to take up our crosses and follow you. We can't cling to comfort or to the things to which we are accustomed. You lead us on this ultimate exodus which finds fulfillment only in heaven.
The desert between here and there isn't always fun. The cross is by definition a place of suffering. It is hard to even watch you endure it, Jesus, let alone to endure it ourselves.
Even when the sky is dark and the cross seems like the final word we need to realize that there is a deeper truth.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
This is just a hint of what lies on the far side of the cross. But it is enough. It reminds us that sufferings of this present time aren't even worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed (see Romans 8:18). Faith in Jesus roots our lives in a deeper reality than this passing age.
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus, you want to help us to know this more deeply today so that we can persevere fearlessly on the exodus on which you lead us.
Just as fire passed through Abraham's sacrifice to help him to trust you, so too make fire to pass through the sacrifice of the Eucharist, to fill us, and to transform us with the sure knowledge of your love. Enable us to say with the psalmist:
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
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