2nd Sunday of Lent 4 Mar 2012 Sermon

2nd Sunday of Lent 4.3.12 Seeking God

When Our Lord was on earth it seemed He was not anxious to show forth His full glory.
Even when He rose from the dead He did not show Himself to people like Herod, Pilate, Caiaphas... He could have really embarrassed them!

We might wish He had done that because it would make our job easier, the job of convincing unbelievers.

He did appear to His disciples, however. Why only to them?

He appeared only to those who loved Him, to restore their faith. Their faith had taken a battering, but their love remained.

This gives us an insight into how God works. To those who love Him; to those who seek Him with humility – He will make Himself known.

We often have doubts about God - His existence, His closeness to us; whether or not He will keep His promises. We worry about the future. Often we are weak in faith and low in confidence.

But if we seek Him in love He will reassure us. It may not be through any spectacular sign but it will be something to remind us of His presence.

If we love Him enough we will recognize the signs.

By contrast, many today will demand proof of God’s existence. They do this in an aggressive way, which turns out to be entirely the wrong approach.

It might seem logical to make such demands. If He works a miracle I will believe; if not I will not. But who is anyone to make demands of God?

It may sound logical but there is no love in such an approach, let alone humility.

If we loved Him we would see miracles. Or, better still, our love would enable miracles.

But if love is lacking even the miracles will not convince. How many miracles did Our Lord work in His public ministry? He raised the dead three times; cured the sick countless times; showed His mastery over nature several times; and yet still the people would ask for a ‘sign’. Yesterday’s miracle was no good. They wanted another one today. I suspect it would be the same for the hardened unbelievers of today.

People who love Him do not keep asking for a sign, only for mercy for having offended Him; for help in coping with our troubles; thanking Him for past help.

We are among those who love Him (or should be). We welcome miracles when they come but we do not seek them as an end in themselves.

To those who love Him He will make Himself known, and will work through them.
(Though we should note that it will not be all an easy ride because those who love Him will also be called upon to suffer with Him.)

Today’s Gospel tells of the Transfiguration: Our Lord revealed His glory, but only to three apostles. A very small audience. Not even the whole twelve, and certainly not the general public. It was a privilege for just those three.

It teaches us that the way to the centre of our faith, to the mysteries we believe in, is not the heavy-footed clumsy style of the curious - Give us a sign - but the humble, unquestioning, uncomplaining way, seeking not a sign but deeper trust.

Someone listening to this could say: Ah, you Christians are just playing games. You cannot produce a miracle so you talk about mysteries.

And if they say that they will be all the more frustrated, and the more obscure it will become to them. Humility is essential.

This is not like any other branch of ‘science’. Discoveries can be made here only by those who are in the right frame of mind and heart.

If we have love we will also have faith.

And where does love come from? From being humble enough not to make demands, content to wait on God to make Himself known, in His way, at His time.