Last week we heard the familiar story of Adam and Eve and the original sin which led to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. This story is among many found in Genesis 1-11 which address the origins of the world and reveal certain fundamental truths about creation and the nature of humanity.
From these narratives we find that God installs humans in a special manner as dignified beings formed in God’s image. Yet the human race falls into sinfulness which requires the need for further divine intervention.
In Genesis 12 from today’s First Reading (Gen. 12:1-4a) we find the story of the Call of Abraham. In this passage the focus shifts from the whole of humanity to the story of one man and one nation involved in a series of events which will ultimately heal the breach that sin has caused between God and the world.
At the time of his call Abraham was a polytheist living among a pagan people in the land of Haran. He is told by God to leave his land and relatives and travel to the land of Canaan, eventually known as the Promised Land for his descendants.
God makes a covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1-9) and offers a three-fold promise of land, nation, and blessing, revealing to Abraham that in God’s special dealings with him lies the solution to the entire human predicament: “All of the families of the earth will find blessings in you” (Gen. 12:3). As such, Abraham becomes God’s obedient servant, and a blessing whose lineage eventually leads to the redemption of the entire human race.
We have no details about the nature of Abraham’s interaction with the one, true God which prompted him to suddenly uproot his family and change his entire life. We don’t know if it is a vision, a dream, or some other type of encounter. All we know is that “The LORD saidto Abraham: ‘Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you…’”
The only action performed by God in the verse is His speaking to Abraham: “The LORD said…” The LORD speaks and Abraham listens and follows the word of God.
Other Old Testament figures will hear the call of the LORD and respond to his call in a similar fashion. Moses hears God calling from the Burning Bush and is instructed to lead the people who are enslaved in Egypt (Exod. 3:7-22). Elijah detects the voice of God in the stillness as a “light silent sound” and responds to his mission (1Kngs. 19:1-21). And Isaiah hears the voice of the LORD asking, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And responds, “Here I am, send me!” (Isa. 6:8).
In today’s Gospel from Matthew (Mt. 17:1-8) we once again here the LORD speaking. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to the mountain where he becomes transfigured before their eyes and he is seen conversing with Moses and Elijah. The disciples then see a bright cloud cast a shadow over them and hear a voice, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Jesus, the Son of God incarnate is not only the divine Son, but also the second person of the Trinity, the Word who was with God and was God from the very beginning. As such the disciples are instructed to “listen to him.” It takes them a while to understand what this means, but after his crucifixion and resurrection, the disciples of Jesus, empowered by his Spirit, take the news of the Gospel to all nations.
Although we might not hear or detect the call, God still speaks to us today through the voice of Jesus. It probably won’t be in the form of a burning fire, an earthquake, or a strong wind. Rather, like with Elijah, it will be a small, still voice. Maybe it will be at Mass, at a time of prayer, or from another person. It might be such that it is easy to ignore.
The question then becomes: how will we respond? Will we be hesitant, reluctant, or unwilling? Or will we heed the words, “Oh, that today you would hear his voice, harden not your hearts (Ps. 95:7b-8).
