Weekly Bible Reflection: 2nd Sunday of Lent

Genesis 15: 5 – 12, 17-18 and Luke 9: 28b – 36

by Steph Neville

Looking at these two readings together I was struck by two comparisons. I don’t have a lot to say about either but thought they might be an interesting springboard for reflection and discussion.

The first is about sleep. In both of these passages there are references to the main characters sleeping. We are told a “deep sleep” fell on Abram, and that the disciples were “heavy with sleep”. It could perhaps seem strange that during these very intense moments of encounter with God, that both Abraham and Jesus’ disciples fall asleep. There are differences: in the Genesis story Abram has already received a promise and followed God’s orders to sacrifice a selection of animals, whereas in the gospel they wake to the encounter with the transfigured Jesus. Nonetheless, in both, I detect a sense of uncontrollable exhaustion and also, perhaps, permission to rest, and thought it might be interesting to reflect on how we experience God in tiredness and in rest.

The other is about the references to darkness and light. The transfiguration is associated with bright light: Jesus transfigured into dazzling white. There is, also, a cloud, but at least in the picture in my head, it is light which characterises the disciples’ encounter with the transfigured Christ. Interesting then, that it is paired in the lectionary with a reading in which it says of Abram “a dreadful and great darkness fell upon him” I was really struck by this contrast: by something about how God’s presence, identity and promise can be made visible both in bright lights and deep darkness. I guess it set me to reflecting on where I too might see God in both the light and the dark, the joy and the struggle, to reflecting on where God feels most real, where the promise feels most meaningful. I would be interested to hear other perspectives on this from other people’s experiences too.

I don’t have anything to say about cutting animals in half although if that is something others want to discuss, that’s fine.

I probably do have more to say about the transfiguration, but I’ll leave it there for now.

Questions

What strikes you about the readings: any first thoughts?

In these intense moments of encounter with God, both Abraham and the disciples slept. Is there any significance to this? Does it say anything into your own experiences of exhaustion or of rest?

Do I have experiences of “deep darkness”: where was/is God in those moments? What promise or covenant did/does he make with me?

Do I have experiences of “dazzling light” / “seeing his glory”: where was/is God in those moments? What did/does God’s voice say?

Anything else to discuss?