Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

Second Sunday in Lent (March 16, 2003)

Suggested Emphasis from the Book of Genesis

"Because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly."

Salesian Perspective

In our reading from Genesis, we see Abraham promised abundant blessings because he was willing to sacrifice his son. But elsewhere in Scripture we hear that it is not sacrifice God wants from us but a humble, contrite heart. God blessed Abraham because he emptied himself in order to receive God’s blessings. Not only would he walk in the path God was showing him but Abraham was not going to hold back anything for himself.

In our reading from Romans, Paul tells us that love means never holding anything back. After all, even God did not spare his own Son. Love means giving everything and holding on to nothing. Love can never be half way. It must be total and complete to be true love.

Jesus allows the apostles to glimpse this total love on Mount Tabor. In a rare moment, the three chosen ones saw the beloved Son of the Father as he truly is. They glimpsed love, as it is known in eternity, not the meager facsimile that we know here on earth. And the Father himself told the Apostles to listen to this beloved Son.

We have embarked on our annual Lenten journey. We are already ten days into this season of conversion. Like Abraham, we are not called to sacrifice those we love. We are called to love them in God and for God. We are called to convert this love into that which will exist for all eternity.

The mystery of the Transfiguration is the mystery of conversion. Jesus did not appear in his glory to dazzle or mystify his Apostles. He appeared as he truly is to call them – and us – to conversion.

Saint Francis de Sales tell us, “What ought we not do or suffer in order to enjoy these unutterably pleasurable delights! The truth is shown us in today’s Gospel; for do you not see that Moses and Elias spoke and conversed very familiarly indeed with our transfigured Lord. Our felicity will not stop at this, my dear souls. It will pass farther, for we will see face to face and very clearly the divine Majesty, the essence of God, and the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. In this vision and clear knowledge consists the essence of felicity.” Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent, February 20, 1622

We are called to give all to the Father as Abraham did so that we may enjoy abundant blessings. We will certainly enjoy some of these blessings while on this earth. But more importantly, we will one day enjoy the greatest blessing of all. We will be transfigured after the model of Christ for all eternity.

Sr. Susan Louise, OSFS, is Principal of Holy Cross Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the De Sales Spirituality Center.