Second Sunday of Lent
By Sister Bobbi Bussan
This week we move from the desert to the mountain as we walk boldly with our God.
Abraham defied the culture of many deities to follow one God. He listened and followed God to the point of being willing to sacrifice his son. Only after this mountaintop of surrender did Abraham fully comprehend the true meaning of following one God. Abraham took bold actions.
In the first eight chapters of Mark, we see Jesus walking boldly among the people. Nineteen times in this scripture, Jesus boldly cures the sick and forgives the sinners. He defied the kingdom of the earthly world to embrace a radical new Kingdom.
As the disciples walked boldly with Jesus, they witnessed the wonder and power of his words, yet they could not fully understand the full impact of the Gospel. Jesus understood their limitations and continued to teach the meaning of suffering, dying and rising from the dead. The disciples sat in rapt attention, yet were confused at the overall message.
Peter, James & John walked boldly with Jesus up the mountain. They probably didn’t have a clue as to the purpose of the climb, yet still took the risk of staying with Jesus. The mystery unfolds on the mountaintop – in the earth-shattering revelation of the person of Jesus Christ. Imagine the earthly beauty surrounding them with the mountain vistas. Imagine a new beauty born in the dazzling appearance of Jesus. A new beauty born in the presence of Elijah and Moses. How terrified they must have been, and how spell bound in the moment. All at once the disciples made the connection of Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and prophets – the Messiah.
Who of us would not want to stay in that moment forever? The world was suddenly right, a comforting experience, a new wonderous beauty.
God intervenes to pronounce his love of Jesus, and a second baptism. Jesus is transfigured in a new energy and endurance for his next chapter – one of pain, suffering and death. God’s message to Peter, James and John is quite simple –‘Listen to Jesus’. God is calling us to embrace Jesus in every way and be alert to his message.
Jesus leads Peter, James and John down the mountain, fulling understanding they are with him and yet do not fully grasp the future. The men may have been confused at times, but they chose to walk boldly back to the world with Jesus.
Each of us have been to the mountaintop of a deep, rich and intimate experience with God, Jesus and the Spirit. We, too, have moments of doubt, moments we waver in our understanding, moments of fear, suffering, pain and risk. We, too, do not realize the full message of our lives until we experience resurrection.
Lent draws us to a boldness of looking inside ourselves for ways to deepen our spiritual walk. Let us be bold in taking risks and walking freely without fear. Let us walk boldly with a voice for peace, justice and healing of the earth. Let us walk boldly to comfort the sick, heal the brokenhearted, companion the grieving, and embrace those seeking God. More than ever, we must be bold in our prayer for our world. Together we can bring a new beauty to our world.
What boldness is God leading you to?