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FROM A READING FOR MARCH 4, SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
'A cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to Him!"' - Mark 9:7


I had a lousy seminary course in mythology. Our teacher told us that a myth was a fictional story made up by people who didn't know the truth. He said we had to learn myths only because next year we were to study poets like Milton and Shakespeare, and if we didn't know the myths they employed, we wouldn't understand their works.

No wonder we have problems when scholars talk about biblical myths!

In a Commonweal magazine article, John Garvey shared an insight into this biblical genre: "Myth does not mean 'things that aren't true.' Rather, the 'language' of myth has to do with what is truly timeless.

"Myth is not bound by the limits of historical thinking, which deals with time-bound and passing phenomena. Myth is a witness to the fact that some things are true forever. Jesus told stories that are not historically true (the parable of the Prodigal Son, for example) but point us to enduring truths."

Given that insight, Sunday's first and second readings (Gen 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18; Romans 8: 31b-34) could easily fall into the category of myth.

Sadistic God?
Unless we put our "sacrifice of Isaac" narrative into that genre, the story paints a sadistic picture of Yahweh as someone who plays a trick on faithful disciples. Taken literally, this passage presumes Isaac's parents believe Abraham will return from Moriah without their beloved son.

A prophet probably composed this passage more than 2,700 years ago in northern Israel. Part of Genesis' "Elohistic source," its author must constantly deal with readers giving into customs which draw them away from their interpersonal relationship with Yahweh.

One major issue they confront is child sacrifice. We know from II Kings that even some Jewish kings made their children "pass through the fire" - sacrificed them to pagan fertility gods. No doubt, faithful Jews heard the taunts of pagan neighbors: "We love our gods more than you love yours. We sacrifice our children to them."

This is the background against which to hear the Isaac story. In a mythic way, the author is saying, "We love Yahweh so much that we'd sacrifice our children if we were asked to do so." Look at Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Yet, the narrative eventually teaches that Yahweh is a God of life, not death.

Transfigured
Most scholars also believe Mark's transfiguration narrative (Mark 9:2-10) is a biblical myth. Employing classic imagery from the Hebrew Scriptures, Mark presents Jesus as fulfilling the Chosen Peoples' dreams and hopes.

In His transfigured mode, Jesus stands between Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets - the phrase used in the Bible for the Bible. Peter's request to set up tents is an obvious reference to the feast of Tabernacles, a celebration looking forward to the day Yahweh will return.

Mark is saying in a mythical way, "Jesus is the special person Israelites have been expecting for centuries. He's God-among-us."

Except for picturing Jesus at the right hand of God, Paul doesn't employ mythical language in our Romans passage. The Apostle talks about God's concern for those who follow Jesus: "If God is for us, who can be against us, He who did not spare His own Son?"

It's good to have such to-the-point biblical statements. But myths do make our faith more interesting - and certainly more memorable.[[In-content Ad]]

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