Readings: Gen 22:1-2,9-13,15-18; Ps 115:10,15-19; Mk 9:2-10
Theme: A TENT THAT DEMANDS SACRIFICE (BEFORE THE TENT OF GLORY, THERE MUST BE MOUNTAIN OF SACRIFICE) BEFORE THE TENT OF GLORY…
Man is naturally easily attracted to glory. Behind everything man does, is a search for some kind of glory. Whether this glory is earthly or heavenly is another case altogether, the point is that there is that search for glory. The gospel reading today begins by saying that “after six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John and led them up to a high mountain.” A bit survey of what follows before our pericope will help us understand the transition. In Mk 8:31-33, Jesus foretells his death and resurrection (Please observe the sequence: Death, then resurrection).
With three words, Jesus expresses what would happen to him: great suffering, rejection, and execution (Mk 8:31). Yes, there will be a ‘resurrection’ after three days but before then, a great suffering, rejection, and execution must take place. These words were not funny to the disciples, especially Peter. And so, Peter took Jesus by the side and began to rebuke (ἐπιτιμάω/epitimao) him (Mk 8:32). Peter could not withstand Jesus speaking of his suffering and death.
Now, six days later (that is on the seventh day), the same Peter and James and John went up to a mountain with Jesus. The scenario changed from ‘suffering’ narrative to manifestation of glory. When Peter saw the glory, he did not want to go down again, he wanted three tents be built, that is, he wanted a permanent grasp of the glorious moment. The same Peter who did not find it easy with Jesus speaking of his suffering, now does not want to leave the mountain because of the glory. It is naturally in man to abhor anything that has to do with suffering, but never to let go of anything that is glorious. But Jesus wants to teach Peter that surely there will be glorious moments on the mountain, but before that glory, sacrifice has to take place on the altar already prepared on that same mountain.
The tent which Peter spoke of takes us back to the exodus experience. The feast of Sukkot otherwise known as the Feast of Booths or Tents, is originally an agricultural feast which was later adopted as the feast that celebrates the liberation of the people of Israel from Egyptian slavery (cf Lev 23:43). Hence, the tent (skene) reminds them of God’s deliverance from Egypt. In this case, the tent came after the battle. The problem with Peter’s request of tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah is that he brought the tent (that is victory) before the battle.
That is, Peter’s tent imagines a glory that is already attained without the sacrificial battle. No wonder the voice from the cloud immediately sounded “This is my beloved son, listen to him”. Yes, Peter has to listen to Jesus and understand that there is no godly glory without victorious sacrifice. Instead of remaining in the foreshadowed glory on the mountain, Jesus must go down with the disciples to fight against the power of darkness, give himself up for sacrifice according to the Father’s will, and then attain this glory that will be permanent. In fact, the three disciples were not to speak of this glory until suffering and sacrifice have been accomplished in Christ (Mk 9:9).
…THERE MUST BE MOUNTAIN OF SACRIFICE
When we follow the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis more carefully, we will observe that the only thing Abraham ever asked of God is a son, that is a descendant (Gen 15:2). Sarah his wife tried to solve this problem by giving Abraham a son, Ishmael, through her maidservant, Hagar, but the son, the real descendant of Abraham is promised to come from Sarah (Gen17:18-19,21).
Hence, we can say that Isaac was the most precious part of Abraham’s life. In the first reading today, this precious aspect of Abraham’s life is demanded as a sacrifice by God. We must note that Abraham knows Isaac to be God’s gift to him. But when God demanded Isaac to be sacrificed, he did not refer to him as ‘the son I gave to you, or my gift to you’, rather he said, “your son…your only child Isaac”. God is not demanding Isaac as what belongs to him but as what belongs to Abraham.
DETACHMENT IS A SAFE TRIP TO GLORY
The story of Abraham prefigures the story of God himself. God sees that there is a glory to attain, the glory of redemption. But arriving at this redemption demands a sacrifice, the sacrifice of his only begotten and beloved son. Just as the question of Isaac did not stop Abraham from taking him up to the mountain for the sacrifice (Gen 22:7), so also the request of Jesus did not stop God from surrendering his son, Jesus, for the sacrifice (Matt 26:39; Lk 22:42). Yes, Abraham pleaded to have a son, and was very pleased to have Isaac. But he was never attached to that precious thing in his life. God so much loved his son (Mk 9:7; Jn 3:35; 5:20) but he was willing to give his precious son up for the world he has created (Rom 8:32).
Lenten season reminds us of this kind of sacrifice. Sometimes it is easy for us to hold very tight what we consider precious, we fear losing that part of us which has become almost our life. Sometimes it may demand that we let go of what is so precious to us, for the good of others. Before desiring to close ourselves up in the tent of glory, we must remember that there is an altar on that same mountain where we must first sacrifice what we hold dear.
What sacrifice are you making for the glory that is to come? What is that ‘precious’ lifestyle that you are so much attached to, which you must give up in order to experience the glory of God? What is that suffering, difficult life, hard labor, inconvenience, hours of struggle, stress etc which you are afraid to undertake? Do you desire easy life, life filled with unlabored and fading glories? Are you like Peter, who detested the hearing of suffering but rejoiced on seeing glory?
Just like Abraham, whatever God has given, no matter how lone and precious it is, is for you to put into service. Do not be afraid to sacrifice something of yours for the good of others. Do not be afraid to sacrifice what you hold so dear for God and men. In sacrificing Isaac, Abraham learnt God to be “the One who provides” and he indeed provided. On this mountain of life, God provides, and that divine provision is always glorious, but before that glorious provision, a painful and precious sacrifice must occur.
Fr, Henry Chukwuezugo Nnamah
Catholic Diocese of Aguler