2nd Lent: Turning points in our story with God.

Any good story, whether a novel or movie, has twists in it. Twists that change the trajectory of the plot, in which the characters grasp themselves or reality in a different way. They are also entertaining. Reading a book with a plot that we can figure out in the first chapter is boring. Think of movies like “Knives Out” which keeps us guessing all the way through.

Relationships too have twists, or turning points. Consider your spouse and your courtship. Was there a certain point when you knew, this was the one, and the relationship changed after that? Was there an event, something different that seemingly changed your idea of him or her? Many religious will have similar experiences. There will be a point, hopefully, when the formation comes to a point and we grasp that we are called to this life, or not. For many seminarians it happens during a pastoral year, and after engaging in ministry, we get it. 

What happens? We see the person or the experience in a new way. We see an act of random kindness that shows us how compassionate he or she truly is. We experience the other staying with us in a moment of great need, and we grasp how faithful they are. It is more than words, they have action.

Children get taught our Catholic faith at their level. “Jesus loves us yes I know…” Children are taught Jesus will always be with us, he will help us, pray to him. We kind of teach Jesus as this magical figure who will help us out. Then we progress to teaching our teens and such, Jesus is your buddy. He will be with you through those trying adolescent years. Then unfortunately our understanding of Jesus stops.

Until maybe we come to a turning point, and our understanding of Jesus and our faith does not make sense to us, or to how we think it is supposed to be. Then what do we do? Do we stay with the story, or close the book?

We have two turning points in our Scripture today. The story of Abraham dominated a good portion of Genesis. We follow his trail from his homeland to the new land, to the promise of God, through his story with his tribe, wife, servants, and his desire for a legitimate heir. Isaac is born finally, and we have this sacrifice scene in which we hear God say NO, I really don’t need it.

A prefigurement of the true Son that will be given to show God’s righteousness. And the story changes, Abraham moves away from the center, and Isaac takes center stage, but even then the story takes a quicker pace from Isaac to his sons, to their descendants, to eventually Moses and the exodus. 

Jesus has been performing miracles in the land, and asking people to not tell anyone about them. He has cleansed lepers, expelled demons, cured the sick…but the story of Jesus needs to be more. The person of Jesus is more than doing these things. Clearly people believe he is a messiah, but one who is either political, or magical, or some other narrow version. The story changes after the transfiguration. The disciples are shown that there is truly more to the messiah than a miracle worker, or someone who will become a political figure or religious leader. Jesus is the one who has been longed for from the Law and the prophets; he is the Son of God who comes to save us by showing us God’s incredible love for all; revelation through the Cross. He is the one given by God for the good of all. As we continue on Mark, the tone changes. Jesus will show his disciples more and more that this is the reason he came. Jesus came for all, to show all.

I hope that all of us will have turning points in our lives in our faith. In fact, it is necessary for all of us to have those turning points in which our understanding of Jesus, and what it means to be his disciples, to be Catholic grows, it expands.

Discipleship in Jesus Christ means to constantly seek deeper meaning of him who saves us; of him who calls us to fullness of life; of him who is the suffering Messiah and the resurrected messiah. Discipleship means to allow ourselves to be challenged, to allow ourselves to grow in understanding. It will mean we have humility, and not assume we know it all, or that we are correct. It will mean we have to reconsider what we believe is important.

I have met adults who are still stuck like children, not in the good way either, in their faith. They are angry because Jesus/God did not do what they wanted. They didn't get the job, the car, the parish they wanted. They did not get the miracle they insisted on having if they were to believe. They are angry at the Church because it is not the way they believed as kids so many decades ago. They are angry at the pope because he dares to invite us to consider Jesus on a deeper level. They have not had, or been open to a turning point; and allowed themselves to believe on a deeper level.

And people bored with the faith, because they have not had a turning point in their lives. They have nothing against believing in Jesus, but see nothing that excites them either.

And I have met those who have had those turning points; God has called to them; showed them more of the beloved Son and they grew. They found a firmness, even amid a chaotic life. They found hope, even when it all seemed hopeless. They found a capacity to forgive even when heartbroken. They found a way to help others.

Think of more modern persons like Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Elizabeth Seton. Or more older saints, Ignatius, Francis. People who lives took a change when they experienced God on a much deeper level in Jesus Christ.

And here we are in Lent, this sacred time in which we can humble ourselves so as to be open to a turning point. If we are open to the possibility.