Last week we explored how mystagogy is a lifelong discipline for all the faithful. At its core, mystagogy asks: What happened? What does it mean? What will I do now? As we continue through the Year A cycle of Lenten readings, let us ask the same mystagogical questions of our encounter with Christ in the liturgy.
Today we hear of Abram’s call to leave his homeland, where everyone he has ever known lives, to go to a foreign place, its location not yet even revealed to him. With only God’s promise of blessing, Abram follows God’s direction, navigating his way by faith. In the Gospel, Peter, James, and John are also sent from a place where they would rather stay to follow their friend toward an unknown future. And this Easter Vigil, we rejoin Abram (now called Abraham), who must again trust in God’s promise though it would mean losing his only son.
Perhaps being faithful is more about being willing to take risks, go beyond our boundaries, and leave the safety of our own self-assurance in order to truly follow God. Click To TweetLiving faithfully can sometimes appear like it’s all about following rules, staying within clear-cut lines, and being careful to avoid sin. But perhaps being faithful is more about being willing to take risks, go beyond our boundaries, and leave the safety of our own self-assurance in order to truly follow God.
Where and to whom is God leading you this day where you would rather not go?
This post was first published in “GIA Quarterly: A Liturgical Music Journal.”
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