When God calls us into his light, into his divine plan for us, we may not know the outcome; in fact, we may tremble and be struck with awe. But we can be certain of one thing if we follow Him: It will be a blessing.
Abram, who will be called Abraham, must leave everything he knows and head into the unknown; yet, as it says so beautifully in our reading from Genesis, he will be both blessed and a blessing, as will all the generations born of him. Hardships will come, as St. Paul tells Timothy, but the glory of God will be fulfilled on the heels of Abraham's obedience.
In today's Gospel, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain. There they witness his miraculous Transfiguration as the son of God, flanked by Moses and Elijah. The apostles tremble and are struck with awe, not understanding what they see and hear. And yet they are blessed, and they become a blessing, and all of us are blessed because they followed Him.
We will not know everything that awaits us when God calls us, in life or death. We might not understand what is right before our eyes. But we can be assured that it will be a blessing, that we will be a blessing, that everyone will be blessed because our God is trustworthy and kind, and He loves us infinitely. In the words of a homily by Father Mario, which I carry with me always: "You will be transformed. Do not be afraid. You are precious."
–Laura Tattoo
Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.