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<v SPEAKER_00>In the first reading we hear the Lord say to Abram, Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk, from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Abram went as the Lord directed him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No debate, no follow-up questions, no spreadsheets, no maps, just a command and a promise.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go, he tells him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you want to understand Lent, understand that word go.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because a spiritual life does not begin with inspiration, it begins with interruption.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God interrupts Abram's stability, his routine, his way of life, his security, his identity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He says, leave.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Leave what is familiar, leave what is comfortable, leave what has defined you up to now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Abram goes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Notice what God does not give him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He does not give him a destination, no timeline, no explanation, just this.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I will show you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the entire spiritual life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We want clarity without, we want clarity before obedience.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God asks for obedience before clarity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We want guarantees.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God gives promises.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We want to know how it ends before we agree to begin.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God says, start walking.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Abram becomes Abraham not because he understood everything, but because he moved when God asked him to move.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And here's where it gets uncomfortable.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lent is not about giving up small pleasures.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lent is God saying the same word to you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What is that for you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, it may be habits or vices that are slowly hurting your soul.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It may be a version of Christianity that's comfortable but very shallow.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It may be distraction, it may be compromise, it may be the quiet addiction to control everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go forth from your father's house, he says.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That means leave the identity you've constructed for yourself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Leave the excuses that you defend.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Leave the story you keep telling yourself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, this is just who I am.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, that is who you have settled into being.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The scriptural life always begins with departure.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And here's the truth most of us resist.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You cannot be transformed if you refuse to move.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And if we look at the gospel, Jesus takes Peter, James, and his brother John up a mountain.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We know well that in the scriptures, when that the mountains are places of revelation, Moses, Elijah, now Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why a mountain?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, because of elevation changes perspective.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Below you see problems, you're in the thick of it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>From above, you have a different perspective.

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<v SPEAKER_00>May even be able to see purpose.

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<v SPEAKER_00>On the mountain, Jesus is transfigured, his face shines, his clothes blaze with light, and the Father speaks, this is my beloved Son.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But do not miss the timing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This happens right after Jesus predicts his passion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Before the cross, he reveals glory.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, because God never asks you to leave something unless he intends to show you something greater.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Abram leaves home.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He becomes father of nations.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The apostles leave the shore.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They see divine glory.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But here's the danger.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Peter wants to stay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Let us build three tents, he says.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He wants to freeze the moment.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He wants to control the experience.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He wants glory without dissent.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We do that a lot.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We want consolation without conversion, inspiration without obedience, mountaintop moments without Calvary commitments.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But Jesus does not let them stay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The voice from heaven does not say, build.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, the voice from heaven says, listen to my son.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not admire, not discuss, not analyze, listen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That means when he says forgive, you forgive.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When he says repent, you repent.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When he says trust, you trust.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then when he says go, you go.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The spiritual life is not about emotions or feelings.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's about movement.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Abram went as the Lord directed him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That sentence should shock us, move us, because many of us hear the Lord and we stay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We hear him in the scriptures, we hear him in our conscience, we hear him in our suffering.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We may even hear him in the homily.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But we delay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe later.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's not the right time now to make a move.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's not a right time to commit more.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe when things calm down, maybe when I understand the faith more or when I feel stronger.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Abram did not understand more.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He did not feel stronger.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He moved.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And here's a deeper truth.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The promise follows the departure.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If nothing changes in you this lent, it's not because God has been silent.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's because you've stayed put.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You cannot ask God for transformation while clinging to what He told you to leave.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You cannot ask for glory while protecting your comfort.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You cannot ask for peace while refusing surrender.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God is speaking.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go deeper in prayer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go to confession.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go reconcile that relationship that is hurting.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go detach what is quietly enslaving you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go where obedience feels uncomfortable.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Ask yourself, are you stuck in the same old, same old?

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<v SPEAKER_00>The transfiguration shows us what awaits us on the other side of obedience.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Glory, clarity, identity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is my beloved Son, the Lord says.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And by grace that voice echoes over us as well.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But you will not hear it clearly if you refuse to move.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So here's the question.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not what your spouse needs to leave, not what your children need to leave, not what your neighbor needs to leave.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What is God asking you this Sunday to leave?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because until you leave what is small, you cannot receive what is great.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This Lent, stop negotiating, stop delaying, stop overanalyzing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I promise you, if you trust the Lord, the Lord who calls you out of your comfort is the same God who waits for you on the mountain of glory.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.