Homily: March 5, 2023, Second Sunday in lent (Migration- Transfiguration)

 India gained independence from Britain in 1947 but was hit by a severe famine thereafter. People had to find ways just to survive.

My grandfather, with his nine children, decided to move to the high ranges of the Kerala state to survive. My father was then six years old, he was the youngest child. They walked 40 miles to finally settle down and occupy around 100 acres of forest, which was also home to Bengal tigers, king cobra snakes, and wild elephants.

Grandpa fought wild animal attacks to protect all his children and he lived on well till 97 years old. In Kerala, the youngest son has the responsibility to care for the parents and so my siblings and I lived with grandpa in that same home. Grandpa would tell us many stories about the dangers he encountered and how he overcame them. I have always thought those were the greatest life stories until I came to St. Ambrose.

Here, I have heard life stories with much greater dangers and how people escaped from war with babies in their arms, witnessed losing loved ones in wars, crossed the dangerous Darian Gap to finally reach North America, and spent decades in refugee camps. Migration, escaping death on a daily basis, searching for safety and being a refugee, uncertain of the next moment are real hardships. Yet those dangers and uncertainties do not dampen people’s hope for a better future.

In the first reading, God asked Abram to leave his home in Ur to go to a land far away. Abram had not even the slightest idea where he was to go. He was already 75 years old and was having a good, comfortable life. He was probably wealthy and respected. Recently I watched a short video about Ur, and historians said it was likely a big powerful and flourishing city. Abram was living a good life. The only downside was that he was without an heir.

God promised Abram that he would be blessed, and all nations would be blessed by him. Not knowing anything more, Abram obeyed and trusted God. He went as directed. With that, Abram’s name became Abraham, meaning ‘the father of many’.

Then at the age of 90, God asked him to circumcise. Would any man agree to that, especially at such an old age? Abraham did as told. At 99, God promised him a child, which was also totally unbelievable. Sarah, his wife, was already 89. Sometime later, God asked him to sacrifice his only long awaited son. And he obeyed, trusting God completely.

To become a blessing to all nations, Abraham had to carry a heavy cross. Yet he believed and trusted.

If we examine the lives of Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David, we see that they too were beset by struggles and trials. They had no idea what was laid ahead of them. Yet they believed and trusted.

We too are called to bless others, but are we willing to face troubles in order to become a blessing to others?

Honestly, I have always been reluctant to suffer, more so if I had to suffer for the benefit of others. I have always wished for a ministry that would be easy, without stress, or challenges. In the same way, don’t we all yearn for a comfortable, peaceful and easy life?

We are probably like Peter, who, after witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus, said, "If you wish, I will make three tents here…" Peter wanted to stay on in the glorious presence of Jesus, basking in His radiance, not having to face hardship under Roman rule. We would want the same too!

However, for Jesus, it was the opposite. The transfiguration marked the pinnacle of Jesus' public ministry, after which He took His journey downhill towards the cross, the suffering and death which He accepted, for the salvation of the world. He chose the road to death.

If we are also going downhill in our life, let us find refuge and comfort in the word of God. St. Paul directs us in the second reading that we should "bear our share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God." So, we should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the pathway of our forefather Abraham. But note that St. Paul says, we should bear the hardship ‘with the strength that comes from God’, and not rely on our strength.

He goes on to say that God has “saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to His own design…” Our holiness will not be attained through our own efforts but through God’s will and purpose.

So my dear friends, what is pain if we have eternal life to gain? What is suffering if we have true joy in the cross we are carrying? It is nothing, because what God will give us in exchange is something greater than we can ever imagine.

If God wants to use our hardships to transform into graces and glorious blessings, not just for ourselves or our families, but for our enemies and our persecutors, and all future generations, would you let Him?

Let us take this 2nd week of Lent to reflect.