Second Sunday in Lent: March 4, 2007.

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Psalm 27

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36

First Reading

The Lenten image of a journey rises to the surface throughout this week's readings. Abram's nomadic existence once again intersects with God's promises, leaving a sense that God is always on the journey with Sarai and Abram. Paul's invitation to "imitate" him, given to the church at Philippi, bears the qualities of a journey as he beckons the people not to follow the lead of those who are "enemies of the cross" (v. 18). The passage from Luke is set within the story of Jesus "setting his face to Jerusalem" that began in 9:51. This text attests to Jesus' determination to be on that path.

Three times God announces the covenant to Abram. This text in chapter 15 is the first after Abram's call in chapter 12. While the faith of Abraham is generally portrayed as the paradigm of righteousness, we can see here that it is a developing thing. Abram's terse and challenging response to God's approach and announcement in v. 1 should not be ameliorated or overlooked. God has chosen Abram, for better or for worse. Grace abounds in the relationship. God's patient proclamation as Abram's eyes are lifted to the heavens is the source of Abram's response--"he believed in the Lord" (v. 6).

Abram's obedient offering becomes yet another chance for God's presence to pour out grace. The animals are prepared according to custom and laid out in a way that invites the participants in the covenant to be bound. Abram navigates the gauntlet of flesh on his own. How will God do the same? In the fire that passes between. The journey of faith continues to chapters 17 and 18, where the covenant between God and Abram will further flesh out the faith of Abram and show the faithfulness of God.

The challenge to the journey of faith in Philippi is rooted in the "alternative" teachings that have cropped up. On the one hand there are the "Judaizers" who want to lead the Philippians down a road of legalism. Paul has addressed this matter in previous verses (3:2 ff.). On the other hand, Gnostic elements are pulling them in the direction of a disembodied antinomianism. That seems to be the ill-advised option in this passage. Paul's invitation to "imitate" him is not a bid to gain favor or prove himself right. It is more akin to the plea of a rescue worker telling people to "stick close" as he leads them from a burning building.

The warning of the Pharisees is certainly a plea for Jesus to alter his course. That occurs in many forms and comes from many voices, including the disciples. Leading Jesus astray is probably not the agenda of these Pharisees. Luke paints this category of character in his story with an ambivalent brush. There is no reason to assume they are being disingenuous. Nor is it unlikely they prefer Jesus over Herod.

Jesus' response drives toward the end of v. 32, where the word [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] points to a task completed, a thing run its course. Verse 34 begins a lament over the city that is his goal, Jerusalem. The tender, feminine image of the hen and chicks is powerful and a stark contrast to the fox of v. 32, who waits with others in the hen house. That "house" (v. 35) echoes prophetic treatments of the fall of the palace, temple, and ruling powers found in Jeremiah 22 and Ezekiel 8-11. They will indeed see him in that city before it all falls on the day the crowd sings "Blessed ..." (v. 35). They will neither recognize him nor listen. His journey, however, will be at its destination.

Pastoral Reflection

In the movie 16 Blocks (Warner Bros., 2006), we are introduced to a broken-down, drunk cop (played by Bruce Willis) and a petty crook (played by Mos Def). The cop's task is simply to get the crook to the courthouse that stands sixteen blocks away to testify. Because the crook's testimony will reveal police corruption, the simple trip turns into a race for survival. The remarkable thing about the plot is that these two unlikely pilgrims are forged by the journey into friends. With each hurdle overcome, they become faithful to one another in ways that surprise them and change them into better people than they were. In self-sacrificing acts that neither expects of the other or of themselves, their journey confronts the powers that rob them of life and the powers out to destroy them. It is precisely when one manages to show faithfulness to the other that the other is further transformed.

This is the kind of journey in which we find Abram and Sarai engaged in the text from Genesis. So often, we can blithely portray Abram as a paragon of faith in a way that makes it sound easy for him. He was always Abram. Yet, as his name change signals, Abram is shaped by every step, every encounter with his traveling companion, the God who called him from Ur. We see here his very real frustration at the lack of offspring. We see how God meets him in that despair and offers hope through a promise. We see faith kindled to yet another level. If we read on to the second and third accounts of covenant renewal, we find more evidence of a transformative journey with God.

The Gospel pulls us along with Jesus who has "set his face toward Jerusalem." It might be hard to speak of any real transformative aspect of the trip to the cross on Jesus. He is the faithful companion, determined, ever moving. However, we can note the impact this journey has on those who are swept along the way with him. Today, Jesus explains a bit more what it means to be on the way, what the end point of the journey will be. The words are hard for all around him to understand. Fortunately, it is not by words that Jesus will save the world, but by his actions. Even as his opponents walk along to the cross, they will be transformed--perhaps not willingly--as the structures of power begin to crumble through the events of cross and resurrection.

The passage from Philippians offers up another image related to our journey of faith: intersections or forks in the road. The competing voices in the community offer paths that lead down the wrong road. Like the German soldiers who moved road signs to point the wrong way as they retreated in the face of the D-Day invasion, the "Judaizers" and "Gnostics" are, for Paul, playing a game of misdirection. The faithful need to stick together on the journey and cling to the teaching of the apostles.

The challenge for this day is to be on the road. The good news is that God in Christ is the constant, faithful companion who not only leads us and finds us when we are lost but will sacrifice himself for our sake. In the process, we will be changed--which can be either a challenge or good news, depending on how honest we can be with ourselves. Whether it is sixteen blocks or a lifetime, we must be on the way. TVO