HOMILY: SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
March 12, 2006
One of the more compelling books I’ve read is entitled “Into Thin Air.” The author, John Krakauer, is a journalist from Seattle who participated in an expedition to Mt. Everest in 1996. On that particular expedition, a rogue storm blew in while they were near or on the summit and nine climbers died on the mountain.
Some of what Krakauer does in his book is to explain just what happens when people climb to an altitude of 28,000 ft or so. As the atmosphere gets thinner, less oxygen is taken into the brain and vital organs. Dizziness, severe headaches, and vomiting are the first symptoms that can strike a person at a level of 15,000 ft or so. After that, unless you have an oxygen tank, your vision blurs, your brain begins to process things slower, your reaction time slows, and you begin to hallucinate. This was one of the big problems with many in the expedition to Everest. They made foolish decisions on top of that mountain and paid for it with their lives.
Interesting things happened on mountains in biblical times. Even though the mountains of Palestine are more like our large foothills, biblical peoples looked at the mountain tops as being closer to heaven. Ancient peoples believed that deities lived atop mountains. Even in the comic strip “BC” the guru lives on top the mountain and people have to climb to talk to him!
In the first reading, Abraham is tested and told to take his son Isaac to the mountain where he is to sacrifice him. Even though Abraham’s hand is stayed, it is interesting to note that this happened on a mountain—closer to God. Abraham truly believed that God had led him there and it is credited to him as faith.
Moses ascended a mountain—to receive the Ten Commandments from God who dwelt on Mount Sinai. We are told that when God was present on the mountain top, thick clouds covered the summit and lightening and thunder were seen and heard.
In similar fashion to the Moses story, today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus took some of his disciples to a mountain where something amazing occurred. There his clothes became brilliantly white, and he was transfigured before them. They saw him talking to Moses and Elijah. Suddenly dark clouds covered them and they heard the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved Son.”
At first, the disciples may have thought they were hallucinating or that the climb got to them. But, it became clear that they all shared this experienced, Furthermore, Jesus told them not share it with others until he had risen from the dead. Later, the disciples would recount how they had an experience of God’s presence on the mountain with Jesus.
It is no wonder that our journey through life is often compared to climbing a mountain. The most popular reference was the use of the mountain in the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. We climb the mountain of life and, when we reach the top, we are able to see the Promised Land. It’s a powerful metaphor for life’s journey.
Lent is, in many ways, a microcosm of life’s journey. We walk with the Lord throughout this season. First, we follow him into the desert where we face temptation. Next we climb the mountain to where we see him as our God. Then, we head down the mountain and continue towards Jerusalem where he will suffer, die, and be crucified atop another hill called Calvary.
Notice that this is not meant to be an easy journey. In the desert, we face hunger and temptation. On the mountain we face difficulties and stumbling blocks. In Jerusalem we face persecution and misunderstanding. That’s the nature of life’s journey.
But those are also the places where God can be experienced. He is in the desert parts of our journeys when we feel dry and weary. Notice last week that after Jesus was tempted and feeling thirsty and hungry, we’re told that angels came and ministered to him.
God is also on the mountain. Not simply at the top but on the journey with us. God walks with us as we climb over obstacles and surmount challenges along the way. In a sense, God might be like the good guide who leads us up the mountain. God knows the way and gives us direction. A good guide is someone very important to mountain climbers!
God is with us when we face persecution and misunderstanding and even death. Remember that is on Calvary, while Jesus is on the Cross, that people begin to see that God is present in this person. And it is God who raises us from the death we must also experience at the end of life’s journey just as God raised Jesus from the dead after his journey.
Lent reminds us that this journey is difficult. Our acts of self denial drive this point home. But Lent also tells us that we do not journey alone. We are a team, a family, a church that journeys together. And the Lord is with us.
Perhaps we can reflect a bit this week on our own life journey thus far. What have been the desert and mountain experiences we have faced? More importantly, how has God been a part of those experiences? Those are important reflections for us as we continue our journey through this Lent.