Lent
Two C.
A few years ago I found myself standing at the death bed of a man’s second wife. I was part of the funeral of his first wife who had died seven years earlier. Both women died of cancer. Lori had drifted in and out of consciousness for several days before she died. By some miracle of grace she was conscious and very aware on the evening before she died. I suggested that each member of the family spend some time with Lori and say thank you and good bye. Matthew, the eight year old, was the youngest. He was the child of the previous marriage, but Lori had raised him almost from infancy and she was the only mother that Mathew really knew. Nevertheless, Mathew always called her Lori. He never called her mother. Matthew waited for a very long time before he went into Lori’s room alone that night. When he finally came out of her room I sat down beside him and asked if he wanted to tell me what they talked about. Matthew said, “I told her ‘you are very nice, and thank you for being my mom.’” That was the first time that Lori had every heard him call her mom. I am sure that the love of God present in the simple words of that little boy was one of the graces that led Lori safely home to heaven.
Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. … All at once a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered into the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”
The good news of the gospel is more about who Jesus is than about how much he suffered. Anyone who has been in a third world country or journeyed with someone who has had a very painful illness or death stretching over many years knows that Jesus didn’t necessarily suffer more than others who were crucified or others who died painful deaths. It is not suffering alone or even primarily suffering that makes Jesus the savior of the world. His suffering is redemptive and powerful because Jesus is the true and beloved Son of God.
To understand today’s gospel we need to grasp even more clearly who a son or daughter is in the mind and heart of a father or mother. “God so loved the world that he gave us his own Son.” “If God has given us his own Son, will he not give us everything else besides?” I often find that one song is worth thousands of words. I would like to play for you a song about a father’s prayer for his 14 year old son who has leukemia. Perhaps it will help us understand the gift that God is giving us in the unbelievable gift of his Son.
“I’m down on my knees
again tonight. I’m hoping this prayer will turn out right. See there is a boy that needs your help. I’ve done all that I can do myself. His mother is tired. I’m sure you can
understand. Each night as he sleeps, She
goes in to hold his hand. And she tries not
to cry, as the tears fill her eyes.
(Chorus) Can you hear me? Am I
getting through tonight? Can you see me?
Can you make him feel all right? If you
can hear me, Let me take his place somehow.
See he’s not just anyone. He’s my
son. (Verse) Sometimes late at night I
watch him sleep. I dream of the boy he’d
like to be. I try to be strong and see
him through. But God who he needs right
now is You. Let him grow old. Live life
without this fear. What would I do,
Living without him here? He’s so tired
and so scared. Let him know that You’re
there. (Chorus) Can you hear me? Can you see him? Please don’t leave him. He’s my son.”
(By Mark Schultz
The voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen
to him.” As the followers of Jesus
were about to enter into the passion and death of Christ they needed light for
journey and strength for all that was about to happen as their hopes and dreams
were nailed to the Cross. As we take up
the Cross and follow Jesus we also need to know that in the midst of whatever
lies ahead, the beloved Son of God is there.
On his Cross and on our Cross Jesus is not just anyone. Jesus is God’s beloved Son. Jesus is light for the journey of life. Jesus is strength in suffering. Even on the
Cross Jesus is the promise of victory, resurrection and new life. Jesus is much more than another suffering
human being, as pitiful and as moving as that is. Jesus is God’s divine Son. We are saved because we listen to him. We are
saved because we do his will in loving others with the same love he has for us.
Who Jesus is makes all the difference.
He’s God’s Son. For this unspeakable
gift we give God thanks and praise.