The Story of Two Mountains

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Lenten Season : Second Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Mk 9:2-10*

*First Reading : Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18*

*Second Reading : Rom 8:31b-34*

*The Story of Two Mountains*

*1) Salvation begins and Culminates in Mountain*

We have a beautiful story of Noah, and the flood 

There was a flood for 150 days and Noah and His family was saved through an Ark.

Finally the Ark of Noah, rested on the mountain Ararat and people came out of the ark 

So this mountain has a significance, in saving the people. In other words, the saving work of God starts from the mount Ararat

The Work of Salvation culminates on the Mount Calvary where Jesus offered himself for saving the entire human kind  

*2) The Mountains of Moriah and Tabor*

The Gospel of the day makes a mention of Two mountains 

The mountain of Moriah and the Mount Tabor 

On mount Moriah, Abraham was asked to go along with his Son. Here God asked him to sacrifice His Son 

Mount Tabor is the another mountain, where Jesus was transfigured infront of His disciples. 

Both the mountains communicate and powerful message 

*3) The mountain of Test and Mountain of Answer*

The mountain Moriah becomes a place of testing the faith of Abraham. He was asked by God, to go to this particular mountain and to sacrifice His Son 

The Mount Tabor becomes a place where Jesus gives an answer for the questions of faith

One who is faithful to the Lord, will be glirifed or transformed to experience the glory of God

*4) The Sacrifice of Isaac and Jesus*

The mount Moriah has a reference of the sacrifice of Isaac 

In mount Tabor Jesus reveals the great plan of His sacrifice for the salvation of all and to restore our faithfulness to the Lord 

*5) Altar with wood and Altar with Cross*

In Mount Moriah we find a altar which was built with the pieces of Wood. This altar was built by Abraham and Isaac 

In mount Tabor Jesus reveals and altar which was built with two pieces of wood, by the world, for the sacrifice of His life 

*6) The presence of Angel and the presence of Moses and Elijah*

In the Mount Moriah there appears a messenger or the Angel of the Lord, to reveal the plan of God to Abraham 

In the Mount Tabor, the appearance of  Moses and Elijah for discussion and  revealing the future course of action 

*7) The sacrifice of an animal and the Sacrifice of Lamb*

In the mount Moriah we see an animal is sacrificed, in the place of Isaac. Which was accepted by God

In the mount Tabor, Jesus reveals the need of scarifying the Lamb, who is Jesus for the salvation of all  

*8) The Union of Heaven and Earth*

In both these mountains we see the union of Heaven and earth, Divine and Human, holiness and sinfulness 

Mountain becomes a place of meeting, union, experience and transformation for the human being 

*9) The Church as Holy Mountain*

For all the faithful the Church, the Temple of the Lord, is the Mountain where we experience this divine union 

The saving work of the human beings start from this place, through the sacrament of Baptism and it culminates in the same mountain through various sacrament and other spiritual activities. 

We end our earthly life on this mountain

So mountain plays a very important role in our life 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*