Obedience Brings God's Blessings ~ by Mary Ann Allen

In our first reading this Sunday, we see that God has put Abraham to the test to see whether he will obey God's command. We can't help but wonder what Abraham must have thought when God ordered him to take his only son to be sacrificed to the Lord. Abraham surely recalled God's earlier promise to make him the father of a great nation. How could this happen if God now asked for the sacrifice of Abraham's only son? But Abraham didn't hesitate. He immediately set out for the mountain with Isaac to do the Lord's bidding.

As we all know, God recognized the internal action of obedience to His command in Abraham's heart; and for that reason, God sent His messenger to Abraham to tell him not to harm the boy.

Because of Abraham's obedience, God again declared a blessing on Abraham and his descendents; that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through him.

In the Gospel reading, we find ourselves drawn to another mountain. This time with Peter, James and John, who see Jesus transfigured before them. Standing with Jesus are Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the prophets; both standing as witnesses to Jesus in His Glory. The voice of God speaks to the apostles acknowledging that Jesus is His Son. "Listen to Him."

Do we take this command of the Lord to heart? Are we obedient to God's call for us to listen to His Son? Again, God looks into our hearts for the answer. If we are afraid of this commitment we need only to remember St. Paul's words to the Romans: "If God is for us, who can be against us." We draw courage from God's love and care for us when we see that God did not spare His own Son; but allowed Jesus to suffer and die on the cross for us.

So, Christ calls us to that same mountain; to be obedient to His Father's call to listen to Him. If we listen and allow God to enter our hearts and lives, we will become a light to others. God's promise to us is that we will live with Him, where our light will shine forever.

"O Lord, I am your servant; ...you have loosed my bonds."


~ The Feast of the Transfiguration - Second Sunday of Lent ~