The Three Peaks of Spiritual Challenge

Torah

“Moses said to YHWH, “But, never in my life have I been a man of eloquence,

either before or since you have spoken to your servant.” Ex 4:10

Lent 2B: The Three Peaks Spiritual Challenge

A mountain climber once shared with me, that 'mountain climbing' for him was a transcendent experience. He went on to say that the experience helped him to transcend the limitation of his fears, and discover his strength and endurance. The New Zealand mountain climber Sir Edmund Hillary said, 'It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.' In scripture, mountains have a long tradition of religious significance, being regarded as places where God could be encountered. It seems that from mountaintops, God reveals to humans the divine will and human limitations. The mountain can also be a place where an individual can discover the divine heights to which the human spirit can soar.

What every human heart longs for is to see God, but no one can see God's face and live (Ex 33:20). So the closest the patriarchs like Abraham, Moses or Elijah could come, was to transcend their human limitations, by climbing a mountain, where God could allow them a glimpse of divine glory. Our scripture readings for this week, call us and show us how to be mountain climbers. With God's grace, we are enabled to conquer something in ourselves as we climb each peak, so that, from each mountaintop, we can see something of God's glory.

The first peak challenge is Mt Moriah, which Abraham climbs (Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18) at God's request. Those who have done this climb say Mt Moriah is an arduous, agonizing climb. Abraham takes with him his only son, whom God had promised and whom has asked Abraham to offer back in sacrifice. In climbing, Abraham conquers his fears and doubts, and discovers the depths of his faith, which transcends his human resistance to trusting God. On this mountain, he learns to trust in God, whom he knows by deep faith to be all goodness. On this mountain, Abraham has to trust that God is faithful to his word, and worthy of trust. As a result, Abraham's experience on Mt Moriah stands for the virtue of faith which is given, so that one can see God's faithful providence. In our Mt Moriah experiences we learn that God never abandons us even in our greatest agony and deepest sorrow. We learn what St Pauls writes; "With God on our side who can be against us." (Romans 8:31-34) or as the psalmist prays; "I trusted (GOD) even when I said: 'I am sorely afflicted" (Psalm115:10). Such a capacity for trust is the result of cultivated deep faith.

The second peak challenge is Mt Tabor, which Jesus climbs with his closest friends, Peter, James, and John. There, they are allowed a peek of Christ's divine glory. Occasionally in our Christian walk we experience moments of such grace and joy, in the company of our friends, that we wish it did not end. I have found many occasions during celebrations of the Eucharist to be like this, when God's presence and glory seems tangible. For a moment, one transcends present anxiety and stress, and enjoys a foretaste of heaven. Such experiences help us see in the distance the destination of life's journey, which is to be raised to new life with Christ, and to ever enjoy his friendship in the glory of heaven. Mt Tabor stands for the virtue of hope which helps us to keep God's glory and our final end in sight. We need hope in those times when we are plunged into difficult and challenging circumstances. In the darkness we may not be able to see Christ, but, with hope, we can hear God's voice penetrating our fear saying - 'listen to Jesus, my beloved child' (Mark 9:2-10), who is 'a lamp for your feet and a light for your path' (Ps 119:105).

The third peak challenge is Mt Calvary which is hinted at in today's Gospel when Jesus says; "... tell no one what you have seen, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead." It is on Calvary that Jesus mounts the Cross alone. As Christ's disciples we are called by his grace to follow after him. This journey, involves sacrifice and wounds, and it leaves us vulnerable. On Calvary, God's love is revealed to us in the flesh. This ultimate climb stands for the virtue of love, which enables us to conquer our prideful-selfishness and fears. When we reach the summit of Calvary we are finally fulfill our hearts desire to see God. It is at the cross that we see God, face-to-face in the Crucified One. Such a vision enables us to become transfigured though our loving selfless service in union with Him who gave his all. On Calvary, we learn that 'God is Love', and that in union with Christ who became our suffering servant, we can transcend the limitations of our human nature. Mounts Moriah, Tabor, and Calvary are our 'The Three Peaks Spiritual Challenge' not just for lent but for the whole of our lives. Our Christian spiritual mountain adventure will exceed what any other mountaineering challenge this world has to offer, simply because, its reward is out of this world!

Homily 4th in Advent by Br Simeon

St- Andre-Rublev's Saviour

Holy Redeemer In the care of the Ecumenical Franciscan Order

Homily, 29th December 2013, Fourth Sunday in Advent, delivered by Br Simeon EFO.

Gospel:  Mt 1: 18-24

" Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it"

Advent is running out of time and Christmas is almost upon us. The readings invite us to step aside for a while from the hustle and bustle of the world to reflect on the events leading up to that first night in Bethlehem some two thousand years ago. Matthew views the story of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of Joseph and gives us a remarkable insight into his personality. The ideal that Jesus expressed when he said ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it’ was deeply challenged when Joseph learned the news that Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant. There was nothing straightforward about this situation since they had not been living together as husband and wife. It was traumatic news and Joseph wondered how this could be. Faced with such a real dilemma and a crisis of intimacy, he felt cheated, embarrassed, hurt, and left out. As he struggled with this extraordinary happening, his heart must have been heavy and his dreams shattered. However he did not act rashly but responded to the situation with a generous and open heart.

Afraid, confused and unsure he prepared his course of action and made a lonely decision. Being an honourable and upright man of God, he planned to act quietly and chose a way that would shield Mary from scorn and save her from public embarrassment. But before he put his plan into action Joseph was taken into confidence by the appearance of God’s messenger who came in a dream to explain Mary’s uprightness and the divine origin of the baby. Joseph listened to God’s word and through the angel’s message allowed his life to be influenced and directed to God’s will and acted accordingly. As head of the household Joseph had the specific role of naming the child. Moved by God’s inner prompting, he accepted Mary as his wife and adopted her child as his own.

There wasn't much that was comfortable and cosy about Joseph’s decision to hear and obey the word of God. He was what we would describe as an ordinary working class man called on to respond to God’s extraordinary plan. Like any parent he had to cope with the same fears, worries and bitter disappointments that come to every home. His relationship with God must have been close because in this time of crisis he trusted God’s word and co-operated with God in a decisive manner. Anguished he may have been and he may not have understood all that was happening, but he had come to realise that the hand of God was in everything, taking care of all things and he put his trust in this power. He was open to the Spirit at work in his soul and ready to turn his life upside down each time he heard God’s call.

We can learn from this aspect of his character how to respond to God who communicates with us in the challenging situations of life. Nowadays, the vast majority of people are unaware of the religious significance of Christmas. They view it as a break from work in the wilds of mid-winter. It is our destiny to live in a world of unbelief and confusion where difficulties arise at every turn. With God’s help Joseph got it right and so will we. Once we believe like Joseph and humbly surrender to God, there is no limit to what he can achieve in our own very ordinary lives. Christmas is a time for remembering and showing gratitude to those people who helped us out during the year. Let’s not forget to show them the recognition that they deserve.

The basis of our Christmas hope is that not only is there a God who made the heavens and the earth but he is here with us now in the flesh offering us peace and reconciliation. We all have something unresolved in our lives that quietly eats away at us, disturbing our peace and our ability to show true love for others. As we approach this great feast of Christmas can we say like Joseph that we are ready to rely on God’s help and guidance when we sorely need to be reconciled to another family member? Joseph’s silent presence in the gospel is a testimony of God’s great love for all the poor, humble and just people down through the ages, who are quietly faithful to trusting and relying on God in good times and in bad. As Jesus said ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.’

Amen.