“WARM WITH GOD’S LOVE”
Lenten Reflections
25thFebruary 2018.
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SUNDAY, SECOND WEEK OF LENT
Reading 1: Gen 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 God asks Abraham to offer in sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. Abraham’s obedience was complete. He was ready to sacrifice his son according to the wish of God, until when the Lord stopped him.
Res. Psalm:Ps 115:10, 15-19 “I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Reading 2:Rom 8:31-34 St. Paul tells us that God did not spare his own Son but handed him over to death for the sake of all of us.
Gospel: Mk 9:2-10Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of three of his apostles on Mount Tabor. This glimpse of his glory was meant to sustain their faith in him during his passion and death.
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LENT: A TIME TO KNOW CHRIST
The Liturgy of the first week of Lent, prepared us on the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It set pace for us to cultivate a proper disposition the season of Lent. Last Sunday’s liturgy prepared us on temptations, and enlightened on the need to clean up our souls from sin. Jesus showed us the way to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil in that desert. He opens today through the Transfiguration, a door to eternity and calls us all into the very glory which He has with his Father. Through the transfiguration we are called to the Resurrection of our bodies, when we will be free from sin. Just as the body of the Lord was glorified on the mountain, so the bodies of the saints will be glorified and shine like lightning. "The glory which you have given me I have given to them" (Jn 17:22).
Our journey now takes us to high places, places of dreams and visions. These are places of testing and the revelations that come with letting go of those things that restrain our sight and limit our horizons. In the first reading, it is time for Abraham to hand over to God in trust and sacrifice his most precious possession: his son. This child is his hope for the future, the promise God made to him, his lifeline to a name and a people and his security. It is time to offer the child as a burnt offering, so that there is nothing left in Abraham’s heart, that can be given over fully to God. The place chosen is pointed out by God. Abraham builds an altar. He obeys unconditionally to the last moment, when an angel stays his hand and relays a message from the Holy One: “I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” Now Abraham gets a sense that he does not know this God who is mystery and who wants everything and will be faithful to his promises in ways that are unknown and not always easily accepted by human beings. It is not Isaac who is sacrificed but rather Abraham’s hopes, intentions, possessions, and security. Abraham with this, is bound more closely to God. Parts of him have been burned away by the fire of God’s presence and the word that calls for unconditional and wholehearted obedience. In the second reading, the sacrifice is repeated, God sacrifices His son Jesus. His love for us is thus clearly revealed to us through His son.
In the Gospel, the transfiguration of Jesus before Peter, James, and John, gives us a glimpse of the mystery of God. This is “little Easter,” a moment of grace, a time of respite and strengthening, a moment of passionate delight intended to urge us through the next five weeks. Peter immediately begins to talk to Jesus. “Rabbi” he calls him, teacher, unaware that Jesus is much more—lawgiver, liberator, judge, prophet, fulfillment of the Law, hope, covenant, and promises. Peter hardly knew what to say, for they all were overcome with awe. Peter speaks for all of us, who have since our baptism lived as disciples of Jesus, and yet have not understood the mystery of God.
Lent is a reflective time to invite God’s grace in our lives. It is not only a time to give up things, but also a time to receive greater gifts from God. God has not forgotten us, his children, rather since we have forgotten Him and moved away. Today, Love is revealed to us in the face of Jesus. Jesus through his Resurrection, makes us partake in the eternal plan of God, to be divine, to be loved by God and to be always be in His presence. The Resurrection, like the transfiguration brings into our lives, such a great light, that no darkness remains.
The scripture points us ways to go in this direction. First is to take time to pray, like Jesus. Second is to know Jesus, this is done by a contemplation of the Word of God, God spoke to the disciples, ‘listen to Him’, so also the Word of God reveals to us each day, the person of Jesus. Thirdly, to be united with our community. Like the three apostles, experienced Jesus, we are also in union with our community, called to partake and share in the luminous experience of God. This is possible, each day in the Holy Eucharist, we are all as one community, called to communion to experience the divine transfiguration of the Lord in the Eucharist. And Finally, to share that experience with others. The disciples did not share their experience at that time, but later after the Resurrection, when they clearly understood the meaning of the transfiguration, they shared it with others, by preaching the Good News. So also we are called to proclaim the Transfiguration by opening ourselves to bring hope to all in desolation. We are called to rediscover the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead, to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear patiently with those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead. And in all this to build a relationship with God as His sons and daughters.
Prayer: Lord, may I be consoled by Your glory and splendor. May I believe in this glory and keep it ever in my mind as I press on through the hardships and challenges I face. You travel the road ahead of me and You will lead me on my journey if I only trust in You. Jesus, I do trust in You! Amen.
Lenten Act: Today at Holy Mass, observe Jesus in the Eucharist. This is another transfiguration happening each day, where not only the bread and wine is transformed, but also we are healed and transformed. Ask the grace to grow in faith and understanding of the mystery of God, especially in the Eucharist and the Word of God. As you receive Jesus, listen today to God’s voice speaking to you in your heart. (Mk 9:7)