Abram gains a new lease on life when God calls him to go forth to a new land, and in this new way, God will bless him and then Abram's descendants will be a blessing in all the world.
Jesus offers a new perspective to three of the Apostles. Up to this point, He has talked about His Passion. Then He leads three Apostles up a high mountain, and gives them a glimpse of His glory when He is transfigured.
They saw the glory that would come when Jesus was raised from the dead, just as we're reminded of where we're headed during this Lenten journey.
Even as much as St. Peter talked about staying in that glory, much like we might want to, we descend the mountain, and follow the way of Christ, as God commands us.
Christ is truly the Beloved Son of God, sent to fulfill God's will, to bring about a greater good, and a greater glory.
So we can be courageous in following the way of Christ as His disciples, bearing hardship, yet with great reassurance that we are bound for glory, as we open ourselves to the transformation God works in us to unveil His glory.
As I celebrate Nebraska's birthday today, I recall how 13 years ago this week, I went forth with a group for a service trip at St. Augustine Mission in Winnebago, NE, a week that gave me new perspective and glimpses of Heaven, and truly transformed me, in the spirit of St. Mother Katharine Drexel, who went forth, devoted herself to God as a religious sister, and making an impact by serving.
