Bishop McGratan related the story of Jesus Christ's transfiguration and the observance of Lent as a Christian community to God's call to holiness. The transfiguration was not just a gift of God's presence, a manifestation of Jesus' divinity, but also the prediction of Jesus' impending death and resurrection. It was a gift not only given to the apostles Peter, James and John but also to all of us as Christ's disciples.
Lent is not just a time for having awareness of our own sinfulness and the need for us to turn away from our sin. Lent is also an invitation to holiness, where we once again receive the gift of faith-it is a time of grace, a tine when we can be drawn in a deeper relationship with God. Although our society focuses on the individual, Christian life is communal - we pray, fast and do charitable works together. It is in our baptism that we first received the gift of faith, the life of grace which we all share with All Christians.
Abraham as the father of faith allowed God's initiative in his life in his senior years. Faith is not just a set of beliefs but also a response. In faith Abraham responded with trust in God when he was given the task to lead his people as he held on to God's promise that he will become the father of all nations. As we perform the acts of faith we invoke the image of Abraham - of trusting God in whatever circumstances we are in. And as we do, we become, in the hands of God, an instrument where God's blessings will continue to flow - to us and to others.
Life does not need to be complicated and as we hand over our lives to God and act in faith and respond to His call to Holiness, we receive God's fullness and grace - but we must remember that this is a journey that we must take as a community and not as an individual. And just as Christ told Peter, James and John during the transfiguration and in the garden of Gethsemane, we too must respond to His call to holiness, to make an act of faith. Regardless of the circumstances we are in we as Christians must rise up, continue with life and follow Him - the source of all holiness and grace.
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