Second Sunday of Lent
February 20, 2005


You are responsible for what you see…

2 year old Peter Kempf was strapped into his car seat, ready to head off from a visit to Christian Family Camp, while his mom and dad were outside still holding several conversations. So I stuck my head inside the window and said: “Hey Peter, I hear that you are going to have a sister soon, How does that make you feel?” “I’m excited uncle Bill.” “What are you excited about?” “I’m excited, because now I will have someone to share my life with…” Woof…

To this day, I am not sure if Peter knew exactly what he said, or even understood completely what he said, but on some level, I think he knew. “Now I have someone to share my life with…” What 2 year old Peter knew was a glimpse of the glory that is ours as humans – that we are on a journey together, and that that journey is bigger than us.

It is what 75 year old Abraham came to know. He set out at 75 – WOOF… - because somehow he sensed he was being called – he sensed that his life was bigger than himself – and so he goes. And watch what God says in the sending – “All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” Not just your small world. Not just your small corner of UR of Chaldea – but all the communities of the world…

I would be easy to shrink from that task. It’s too much, Lord. I’m only good for my family, my friends, and even then, only on Good days. I don’t want to be sent to the whole world. Isn’t it enough just to go in my small circles? Go forth… comes the reply.

Peter, James and John want to stay on the mountain top. Lord – it’s good for us here. Just the 6 of us – we like it here. Can’t we stay? What they glimpsed in Jesus was a glory, a wonder and awe that set their hearts on fire. Ahh, he really is who we hoped he would be. Let’s stay here. Let’s live in this moment.

Jesus replies: “BZZZZ”. Wrong Answer. Don’t you understand – this glory, the beloved-ness from God is not about me – it’s about the journey that I am to make with and for my Father. And it is bigger than me. Greater, Wider, more amazing. And I cannot stop until it’s done. And it will involve suffering. But I cannot not make the journey – because I have seen and known a Father’s glory.

What we see, what we understand, we are responsible for. When we glimpse in a moment the glory and the path that is ours, we become responsible for what we have seen. 3 weeks ago, many spent time at Todd Hall on our Awakening retreat and on that mountain, saw an amazing Glory. And now, back down from that mountain, are you living what you saw there? Are you more fully awake to the glory that you glimpsed?

Or perhaps you’ve come to see a truth in a relationship that was hard to see, and you’ve made a decision because of that, but it is so painful to follow through on, so difficult to maintain the distance that you both need. It would be so easy to go back, but because of what you have seen, you know you can’t. And like Jesus on the mountain, you know you have a journey, and that journey involves a chosen suffering.

Or perhaps you heard Sr. Helen Prejean speak this past Wednesday and suddenly you SEE the truth about the death penalty. Will you be faithful to what you have seen? Will you write letters and pray for the perpetrator and the victim alike? How will what you now see change you?

I have become so aware that as much as I love this Newman Community, if I spend all my time at the Center, I miss the call that God is giving to me to make a difference on Campus. There are others who need listening to and praying for and being with. Like Abraham at 75 years of age – God is inviting me to be a blessing for more than those I am comfortable with.

When Peter Kempf gets old enough, around your age, I will remind him of what he said, not just about his impending sister Gracie, but about the entire journey as humans – that he ALWAYS has someone who needs him to share his life with them. And like Abraham and Jesus and Peter, may we be responsible always for the truths we have come to know…