Into Action
By Caitlin Seymour
Fiat Ventures
Today’s Gospel tells the story of the Transfiguration, an epic moment in Christianity. As a child, this was one of my favorite miracles. I pictured the scene as a dazzling whirlwind of magic, mystery, power, and glory. I thought that if Hollywood made an action movie about Jesus, this should be the whole trailer. FLASH, Moses, BANG, Elijah, BLINDING LIGHT, Jesus. It would certainly draw me in! It wasn’t until later in life that I started thinking more about the Apostles’ role in it all.
Before the Heavens opened for Moses and Elijah, Apostles are “overcome by sleep”. How often this is the case with us. How do we live out our Catholic calling in the day-to-day, the moment-to-moment, of ordinary life? It’s hard to stay on top of our game all the time. Are we groggy? Are we sleeping? What do we need to be rejuvenated in our faith? The Apostles were with Jesus, following the path, trudging along faithfully, just like we are. But they needed a little wakeup call, just like we do.
Growing up, my father would rouse my brothers and me for school with a song that started as a whisper and crescendoed into a roar, complete with thunderous clapping. “Stay awake [CLAP CLAP] be ready [CLAP CLAP] YOU DO NOT KNOW THE HOUR WHEN THE LORD IS COMING”. The Transfiguration is the CLAP CLAP that the Apostles needed to become “fully awake” and to jump into action, ready to pitch tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.
Let us be as ready this Lent to act. This is a time to focus on what we need to sacrifice and what we need to add to our Christian lives to be more fully who God has created us to be. That requires us to obey and to trust in God, even if we don’t see the whole picture. It turns out that they were slightly off-base; no tents were needed. But at least they were willing and they were trying. Let that be us this Lent.
The Transfiguration stands in stark contrast to today’s first reading. Abram’s scene doesn’t begin with any sensational special effects. In fact, I’d probably fast-forward through this scene in an action movie. It begins with a quiet whisper of a promise. Then confusion sets in, darkness, and a hint of terror. Finally, God pulls through with his covenant. This is my story! I identify so much with Abram. God promises him descendants. But what do cows, goats, turtledoves, and pigeons have to do with that? God has promised us Heaven and eternity with Him. But what does Lent have to do with that?
Why do we keep our Catholic “rules” during these 40 days? Why do we fast, give up meat (a painful one for me), give alms, sacrifice, and all the rest? It’s about action, just like the Apostles’ action in the Transfiguration. God is thrilled just knowing that we want to make him happy (even if our actions are sometimes a little off-base, even if they seem pointless to us). He wants us to follow Him, obey Him, listen to Him. If we do that, He will always deliver.
This blessed season of Lent, we are doing the hard work of preparation. That’s good! It’s supposed to be hard. Our relationship with God works so much better if we put in the effort. May He bless all of yours this Season.
