The first segment of today's readings has always been intriguing to me. How could Abraham willingly sacrifice his son, even for God? We know that God had to intervene to give children to Abraham and his wife, Sarah. It is difficult to think that Abraham would be willing to make such a sacrifice. On one hand, it is important to recognize that God is the true source of our happiness and our good fortune. Any attempt to discount this brings into question our entire understanding of God. Abraham demonstrated noteworthy obedience to God in his attempt to sacrifice his son. However, people may question how human life can be a true gift from God if it is scarified in such as manner as Abraham attempted with Isaac. It was certainly extremely notable of Abraham to make such a gesture, but from the standpoint of the family, isn't life worth something more? For Abraham, it may have been a question of whether to place his family above God. However, this is not necessarily the point of this reading. Rather, the good will exemplified by Abraham stands as a model for all of us to remember. While our sacrifices will consist of material possessions during this season of Lent, we must not forget the example of complete surrender that Abraham displayed.

The gospel presents us with an example of the visual splendor that is frequently associated with Jesus. The mystery of God and his relationship with Jesus may cause us to see Jesus as blazing in light and glory. Indeed, there was a time when it was difficult to qualify the relationship between God and Jesus. Would Jesus be viewed as human, divine, or both? Through the years, the Catholic Church has affirmed a position on this matter. This does not, however, discount the intense terror and endless curiosity that Peter, James, and John experienced as they climbed the mountain with Jesus. For them, Jesus was a friend and a teacher. In everyday experience, it would probably have been difficult for them to prepare themselves for such an extraordinary experience as God’s revelation on the mountain. Nevertheless, God’s words reiterated what so many already believed: Jesus is truly God’s son. He deserves the attention of the world.