As we explained last week, the first part of Genesis, chapters 1-11, are made up of several traditions. Mankind, left to itself, became caught up in sin and God showed his mercy every time He chastises them and restores them.
Genesis then moves to what is called the patriarchal period. Humanity has been scattered across the earth and we now hear from the Yahwist again as he focuses on a single individual and his descendants. The saga of Abram covers the next 13 chapters of Genesis where we hear the Lord call and Abram’s response. This call and response are made up of the promise that the Lord makes to Abram and others, and the fulfillment of that promise made. Originally the promise was to Abram as an individual, but over time the tradition then becomes wider as it began to include his descendants and the people as a whole.
To receive the promises made to him, the Lord tells Abram he must leave the land of his kinfolk, from his father’s house and go to a land that the Lord will point out to him. The Lord tells him that He will make him a great nation and will bless him. All who bless Abram will also be blessed by the Lord, and for those who curse him, they will be cursed. Five times in this passage the Lord refers to the blessings that will come to Abram. This is a divine sign that the Lord will fulfill His promise to him. Abram’s fame will come from the absolute trust and total faith he puts in the Lord.
Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus offer the leaders of the community’s guidance as they endure the hardships that come from being persecuted for this new Christian movement. Paul knows first hand the hardships he has endured and he is telling his disciples that they too must endure the hardships themselves.
He says that the endurance they must have is not of human endurance, but that which comes from God. It is by the saving action of Christ on the cross that destroys death and brings us the light of salvation and eternal life. This call to holiness is an active and ongoing grace we receive from God.
The gospel is the Transfiguration of the Lord where Jesus takes His closest friends and goes to a high mountain so they could be by themselves. This divine appearance, like several others in scripture, includes a revelation from the Lord. God’s revelation to Moses in the burning bush is one example.
What is important for the author is to make sure his group of Christian Jewish followers sees the connection of the law and the prophets when Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain. It is bringing the tradition of the Old Testament and the New Testament together showing how they come together through Jesus.
Now the disciples must go back down the mountain and continue the journey to Jerusalem. Jesus had told them of His impending passion and death, but they did not understand nor were they willing to believe. Now after this divine sign from God they must follow Jesus to Jerusalem so that he might fulfill all of the things He had told them before they went up the mountain.
These stories of faith in all of our readings today and reminders for us on how we are to put our trust in the Lord, even if we don’t know what the outcome will be. He calls us to follow and obey Him and He in turn will do things for us beyond what we can comprehend.