A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 7, n. 15)
2nd Sunday of Lent, Year B – March 8, 2009
“God Did Not Spare His Own Son”
BIBLE READINGS
Gen 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 // Rom 8:31b-34 // Mk 9:2-10
(N.B. Series 7 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year B from the perspective of the Second Reading. For other reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year B, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US and open Series 1 & 4.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
We continue our Lenten journey gratefully aware that by God’s irrevocable love we are a community of Christian believers “saved through water”. As we tread the arduous path to Easter glory, we behold the enormous rainbow of reconciliation that our benevolent God has painted on the horizon of human history and the entire creation. On this second Sunday of Lent, we delve more deeply into the sacrificial love of God the Father and his beloved Son Jesus Christ.
The sacrifice of the patriarch Abraham, in offering his beloved son Isaac, that we hear in the Old Testament reading (Gen 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18) prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of God the Father in handing over his Son Jesus for us all. The Gospel episode of the Transfiguration (Mk 9:2-10) gives us a glimpse into the glorious destiny of Jesus as the suffering Messiah-Savior of the world. In the Second Reading (Rom 8:31b-34), Saint Paul, astounded by the enormity of the Father’s love and his grandiose plan of salvation, encourages the Romans to be steadfast in their faith and true to their covenant relationship with our saving God.
In our Lenten pilgrimage, we relish Paul’s triumphant hymn extolling the love of God made manifest in the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ “who died – or, rather, was raised – who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us” (Rom 8:34). God’s ineffable plan involving his Suffering Servant-Son is marked with utter benevolence. It also shows that he is unconditionally on our side. Saint Paul therefore poses a challenge of faith to the early Christian community in Rome as well as to all believers in time and space: Can we honestly believe in the enormity of God’s love for us and accept that love?
Aelred Rosser comments on this Sunday’s Second Reading: “The charm (and the challenge to the reader) lies in its appeal as a series of rhetorical questions … Paul is encouraging the Romans to stand firm in the face of temptation and difficulty – perhaps even the threat of brutal persecution for their beliefs. Such a frightening situation calls for strong encouragement, and Paul seems to have found just the right words in this revered text. When troubles come and we feel that God has abandoned us, we can ask ourselves, Would God, who did not even spare his own son in order to save us, abandon us now? Of course not! Like Abraham, we need to remain staunchly faithful and obedient, confident in trust.”
Paul’s message about a compassionate and generous God strengthens our conviction that the Father’s love and the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ conquer all things, even our sinfulness, cruelty and selfish dealings. Indeed, the sacrifice of Christ is not in vain for it brings about our conversion, transformation and healing.
The following story, “The Martyrdom of Andy” by Ben Burton (cf. A 2nd Helping of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, ed. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, Deerfield Beach: Health Communications, Inc. 1995, p. 50-54) is deeply moving and brought tears to my eyes. Andy’s pain and sacrifice transformed the savagery and senseless brutality of Ben into remorse and compassion. Just as the sacrifice of Jesus Christ became a font of blessing for it unleashed the power of conversion and transformation to benefit us all, the martyrdom of Andy became for Ben a wellspring of blessing.
Andy was a sweet, amusing little guy whom every one liked but harassed just because that was the way one treated Andy Drake … For us fifth-graders, Andy was our outlet; he was our whipping boy. He even seemed grateful to pay this special price for membership in our group … I don’t recall that it was ever mentioned that Andy’s father was in prison or that his mother took in washing and men. Or that Andy’s ankles, elbows and fingernails were always dirty and his old coat was way too big. We soon wore all the fun out of that. Andy never fought back.
Snobbery blossoms in the very young, I guess. It’s clear now the group attitude was that it was our right to belong to the group but that Andy was a member by our sufferance. Despite that, we all liked Andy until that day – until that very moment. “He’s different!” “We don’t want him, do we?” (…) The weekend was to be like others the group had enjoyed together. After school on a Friday we would meet at the home of one of the members – mine this time – for a camp-out in the nearby woods … The others told me that since it was my party, I should be the one to give Andy the news! (…)
I can still plainly see Andy as he came toward me down the long, dark
tunnel of trees that leaked only enough of the late afternoon light to
kaleidoscope changing patterns on his soiled old sweatshirt. Andy was on his
rusty, one-of-a-kind bike – a girl’s model with sections of garden hose
wired to the rims for tires. He appeared excited and happier that I had ever
seen him, this frail little guy who had been an adult all his life. I knew
he was savoring the acceptance by the group, this first chance to belong, to
have “boy fun”,
to do “boy things”. Andy waved to me as I stood in the camp clearing
awaiting him. I ignored his happy greeting. He vaulted off the funny old
bike and trotted over toward me, full of joy and conversation. The others,
concealed within the tent, were quiet but I felt their support. Why won’t he
get serious? Can’t he see that I am not returning his gaiety? Can’t he see
by now that his babblings aren’t reaching me?
Then suddenly he did see! His innocent countenance opened even more, leaving him totally vulnerable. His whole demeanor said, “It’s going to be very bad, isn’t it, Ben? Let’s have it.” Undoubtedly well-practiced in facing disappointment, he didn’t even brace for a blow. Andy never fought back. Incredulously, I heard myself say, “Andy, we don’t want you.” Hauntingly vivid still is the stunning quickness with which two huge tears sprang into Andy’s eyes and just stayed there. Vivid because of a million maddening reruns of that scene in my mind. The way Andy looked at me – frozen for an eternal moment – what was it? It wasn’t hate. Was it shock? Was it disbelief? Or, was it pity – for me? Or forgiveness? Finally, a fleet little tremor broke across Andy’s lips and he turned without appeal, or even a question, to make the long, lonely trip home in the dark. (…)
Then it was unanimous! No vote taken, no word spoken, but we all knew. We knew we had done something horribly, cruelly wrong. We were swept over by the delayed impact of dozens of lessons and sermons. We heard for the first time, “Inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these …” In that hushed, heavy moment, we gained an understanding new to us but indelibly fixed in our minds. We had destroyed an individual made in the image of God with the only weapon for which he had no defense and we had no excuse – rejection.
Andy’s poor attendance in school made it difficult to tell when he actually withdrew, but one day it dawned upon me that he was gone forever … I never saw Andy Drake again. I have no idea where he went or where he is, if he is. But to say I haven’t seen Andy is not entirely accurate. In the decades since that autumn day in the Arkansas woods, I have encountered thousands of Andy Drakes. My conscience places Andy’s mask over the face of every disadvantaged person with whom I come in contact. Each one stares back at me with that same haunting, expectant look that became fixed in my mind that day long ago.
Dear Andy Drake:
The chance you will ever see these words is quite remote, but I must try. It’s much too late for this confession to purge my conscience of guilt. I neither expect it nor want it to. What I do pray for, my little friend of long ago, is that you might somehow learn of and be lifted by the continuing force of your sacrifice. What you suffered at my hands that day and the loving courage you showed, God has twisted, turned and molded into a blessing. This knowledge might ease the memory of that terrible day for you. I’ve been no saint, nor have I done all the things I could and should have done with my life. But what I want you to know is that I have never again knowingly betrayed an Andy Drake. Nor, I pray, shall I ever.
Ben Burton
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
How does Abraham’s obedient faith impact you? How does God’s covenant relationship with Abraham affect and involve you?
What is the significance of Jesus’ transfiguration on a high mountain? Have you experienced being a participant in the remarkable saving event of the Lord’s transfiguration?
How does Paul’s assertion concerning the total and exceedingly generous love of God affect you? How does the sacrifice of Jesus Christ move you to compassion, healing and conversion?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Loving Father,
we thank you for the faith of Abraham
who surrendered to your saving will.
The patriarch offered his beloved son, Isaac,
the heir of promise,
trusting in your infinite wisdom
that enfolds and reigns over all.
We thank you for your Son Jesus, the ultimate Isaac,
whom you handed over for us all.
He was transfigured upon a high mountain
to let his disciples have a glimpse of his glorious destiny
and to give them a pledge of glory.
We thank you for the faith experience of Saint Paul
who assures us that with you on our side,
who can be against us?
The power of the sacrifice of your Servant-Son is awesome!
It brings forth healing, conversion and transformation.
Help us to be receptive to grace
and let the sacrificial love of Christ convert, heal and transfigure us,
now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? (Rom 8:31b-32)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
ACTION PLAN: Pray that our Lenten sacrifice may enable us to participate more intimately in the Lord’s transfiguration and glorification. Endeavor to live out the Church’s call of preferential concern for those in greatest need – the unborn, those dealing with disabilities and terminal illness, the poor and marginalized.
ACTION PLAN: To help us appreciate with greater thanksgiving the sacrificial love of the Father “who did not spare his own Son, but handed him over for us all”, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year B, vol. 5, # 15).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US