Fear of God is one of the longstanding issues confronting us human beings. In the earliest civilizations, it is clear that there was some belief in a higher power or force or god who was far beyond human beings. This god was often identified with acts of nature-- usually violent acts— that spoke of this god’s unhappiness. The god of fire, rain, ocean, sun, volcanoes, earthquakes, famine, death and so on. These gods were gods to be feared. Gods who were ever ready punish human beings who failed to honor them. Such gods were usually acknowledged to be the culprits behind natural disasters.
Ancient Greeks and Romans believed in various gods who were continually manipulating human beings for their own purposes. Humans were thought to be pawns of the gods in their own competition for power and glory.
Some civilizations went to great extremes to appease these gods: human sacrifice--especially of children-- were prominent even into biblical times. Acts of personal mortification and self-injury continue to be practiced by some God-fearers. The God of the OT, whose name was revealed as Yahweh, was considered by ancient Jews to be a jealous, war-like God who would punish those who were unfaithful and reward those who were good. This OT God would lead armies into war without taking prisoners. This God would strike down someone who violated the law. This God demanded absolute obedience. God was to be feared. People believed that one could never even look on God’s face without dying. The presence of God was enough to compel people to fall down on their faces, cover their eyes and bow low in subservience.
This unhealthy fear of God is still found in people today who see a great distance between the God of the universe and the human family. Some of us were raised thinking of God as a great judge ready to hand down some sentence for our sins. I often hear people speculate that the misfortunes they have faced in life might, somehow, be connected to some wrongdoing on their part in the past. All of this speaks of a God who is somehow more interested in making us pay for our sinful natures than forgiving us.
But today’s Gospel reveals to us a God who can be seen; a God who desires to be present to his human family; a God who speaks to us, not with an angry voice, but with a love that seeks an intimate union with us.
We hear how Jesus took his closest apostles, Peter, James and John to a high mountain. There, he was transfigured before their eyes. He was surrounded in light and was seen speaking with the great prophet Elijah and the great lawgiver Moses. The apostles respond in a way that tells us of their fear. They fell to the ground, covered their eyes and were shaken. Peter’s first response is to do something to honor this event by establishing some kind of memorial. But, they fail to understand the significance of the event. But Jesus says to them, “Get up. Do not be afraid.”
This message is repeated many times in the Gospels. Jesus continually tells us not to be afraid. The God who was so often feared in times past, is really interested in being known by us in a healthy and loving way. So much so, that he chooses to be revealed to us fully in the person of Jesus. God does not with to remain unknown and distant. St. Paul says in today’s second reading, “God has saved us and called us to a holy life and has been made manifest through the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In the Transfiguration, God is saying that he is close to us— especially in the person of his Son.
The question is posed for us today: Do we really believe that God wishes to be known to us personally? Is the God we believe in a God of love or is this God one to be feared? Isn’t it true that this God dwells in each of us already— sinful as we are? Isn’t God to be discovered in the love of our family members and friends? Do we believe that it is God’s desire that we be saved so as to enjoy eternal life with him?
Even though we say we believe in a loving God, we don’t always live it. We still have fears that God is more interested in our behavior than he is in our faith. We worry that God is going to punish us— even for the smallest infractions. We still tend to think that God is somehow behind the tragedies that confront us from time to time. We struggle with the idea that God is love and that God can forgive anything.
Some people are overly scrupulous about their faith and their behavior— somehow thinking that God is going to note and hold us accountable for the slightest deviations from the law. Some refuse to see God present in certain people. There’s a belief that God cannot dwell in nor can he love those whose lives are somehow far from perfect. Even though we do our best to remain faithful, we still have this inkling that we may not be on our way to Heaven. It’s not a matter of being presumptuous about getting into Heaven. For some, there is real doubt as to their eternal destiny. Some just can’t put their fears behind them to embrace a God who was revealed by Jesus to be loving, compassionate, forgiving, merciful and kind. How many of us really believe that?
As we reflect on the transfiguration during this second week of Lent, let us remember that God is interested in walking closely with us each day. God is always finding ways of making himself known to us and wants to look for his presence in the world and in others. All around us are hints that this God of love is with us and is doing great things for us.
Let us throw off any fears or uncertainties we may have about the kind of God we believe in. Jesus has revealed God to us in his own life of love. That’s really all we need to know. God is good. God is close to us. God invites us to celebrate a healthy relationship with him based, not on fear, but on love.