As you all may recall, I am a huge fan of the “Lord of the Rings” movies. I believe they belong in the conversation along with other movies considered cinema classics, movies like “The 10 Commandments,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Gone With the Wind,” and others. Like all cinema classics, the “Lord of the Rings” stories continue to inspire new generations. From great casting, to epic sound and music design, to groundbreaking practical and special effects, to the amazing source material from J.R.R. Tolkein, everything about the movies came together to create an epic trilogy.
The first movie in the trilogy, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” contains a scene that I have spoken of before in my homilies. It is the epic moment where Gandalf has the standoff in the underground mines with the balrog, a huge, fiery demon-like creature. This creature is pursuing Gandalf and all of those traveling with him. For those not familiar with the story, Gandalf has brought together a fellowship of different races: little hobbits, an elf, a dwarf and a couple of humans, all committed to help take the ring of power to Mount Doom so it can be destroyed there. This ring of power poses a huge threat to the whole world, and this fellowship intends to make sure it doesn’t end up in the hands of Sauron or his followers, who want the ring in order to dominate the world.
So in that epic standoff between Gandalf and the balrog, Gandalf gives himself so that the others might get away. They escape the mines and sit outside, reeling from the loss of Gandalf. Aragorn, one of the humans in the fellowship, wipes off his sword with a look of determination in his eyes. He knows that the mission must continue even though Gandelf is gone. So he instructs the others to get up, so that they can escape the hordes of enemy orcs still pursuing them. He takes up the mantle of leadership and their journey continues.
Today in the Gospel and the first reading, we see God at work with important leaders in the history of salvation. Here in the readings we glimpse epic moments that helped shape the course of history as we know it. Because of the experiences these leaders had atop those mountains, we now sit here in this Church, gathered to worship God and take time for rest as we undertake our Lenten journey.
The first reading is the scene of Abraham’s test with regard to Isaac. Already, we know that a lot has transpired between Abraham and the Lord God. He has responded to the call of God to leave his homeland and travel to a new land. God has promised him countless descendants, and finally, at an unexpected time when both Abraham and Sarah were beyond the natural time for child bearing, they conceived. So here he is, having faithfully followed the Lord God, finally at the beginning of that promise of descendants through his beloved son, Isaac. Then the Lord asks Abraham to offer Isaac up as a burnt offering.
I can only imagine the torment in Abraham’s heart as he climbed mount Moriah with Isaac carrying the wood for the sacrifice. The Church has always recognized Isaac, likely a young man at this point, as a willing participant in this sacrifice, and thus a prefigurement of Jesus. Just as Isaac carried the wood of the offering up the hill and was laid on the wood to give himself in obedience to the will of God, Jesus carried the wood of the Cross up the hill and was laid on the Cross out of obedience to the Father’s will. In the case of Abraham and Isaac, God stayed Abraham’s hand and a ram was sacrificed instead. But as we heard St. Paul say in the second reading today:
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?
Out of infinite, Divine love for all of us, Jesus gave Himself up for all of us to set us free!
So in this great moment of testing, Abraham was faithful, even though he didn’t know exactly how God would continue to fulfill his promise of descendants after the offering of his son, Isaac. He put his hope in God’s ability even to raise Issac from the dead! Where was Abraham able to find this strength and resolve? God had prepared him! God had built the strength within Abraham ever since He called him out of his homeland and brought him to the land of Canaan. Through many different trials and tribulations, Abraham learned to trust in God and His power and strength, so when the ultimate trial came, he was once again able to trust. Through the many events of his life, God had prepared him for the ultimate test.
This same type of preparation is going on with Peter, James and John in the Gospel passage we hear this Sunday. The Father knows how weak the Apostles are. He knows that it will take His strength and courage for them to complete their journey as the shepherds of the early Church. So before the great moments of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, the Father gives Peter, James, and John a glimpse behind the veil, an opportunity to see the glory of Jesus’ divinity shining through His humanity.
On Mt. Tabor, Jesus shines with the incredible and even terrifying glory of God to show them that much more is at work in Him than meets the eye. The Apostles are even given to see the great figures of Moses and Elijah–Moses the giver of the Law and Elijah one of the great prophets of Israel. This must have given them much to ponder as they descended the hill together with the strict order to keep the vision to themselves until Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus and His Heavenly Father knew that their faith needed to be strengthened before the coming trial of his Passion, so Jesus revealed His glory to them even though He knew they wouldn’t fully understand at that point. They didn’t even grasp what He meant by rising from the dead! Clearly, they still had a lot to learn.
God the Father gave them this incredible vision knowing that after they had experienced the glory of Jesus’ resurrection, they could look back at that experience on the mountain and realize that it was a preview of the glory yet to come on the day of Jesus’ rising. This vision was to bolster them for the trial of Jesus’ death and also to give them confidence for the mission connected to His glorious resurrection.
We are blessed to live in the time of Jesus’ resurrection. We have so much available to us to help us in our own journey: the Gospels and all of Sacred Scripture, the examples and stories of the Saints, the strength of the Body of Christ, and the grace of God in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
With all of these many gifts available to us as Catholics, the question is: how will we let the Lord strengthen us during this Holy Season? The Lord wants to build up His power in us, but often we are so focused on things other than Him that we miss the opportunity. That is what I want to challenge us all to do this Lent. Perhaps things are already going well for you and you can see the ways the Lord has already bolstered your hearts. Continue to lean into those practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving so that you can be better prepared to serve where the Lord is calling you. But maybe some of us haven’t had such a great start with Lent. If you are in that boat, it is never too late to commit yourself to what the Lord is inviting you to this Lent. He wants to change your heart by His power this Lent.
Aragorn, in that moment of trial in “Lord of the Rings,” was strengthened to be the leader the fellowship needed at their low point. Throughout the history of Salvation, God has strengthened His people, building them up for the task at hand, as with Abraham, Peter, James, John and countless others. This is the reality with us, too. Jesus wants to use these forty days to build each of us up so that we can be fit for the challenges that lie ahead. When we allow ourselves to be strengthened by Jesus’ grace, it prepares us to lead others to His grace, too, so they can in turn bring others! The blessings are multiplied the more we allow ourselves to be shaped by His powerful grace, love and mercy. So let’s lean in to Him so He can prepare us to go out to others!
+ Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your only begotten Son to give Himself totally for us. Jesus, please help us to open our hearts in new ways this Lent to the grace you pour out for us from the Cross. Holy Spirit, help us to follow your guidance during these forty days so we can be strengthened for whatever may come in the future. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. +