Second Sunday of Lent
Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18
God continually promises the couple that they will have many descendants. In today’s reading, Abram, who God renames “Abraham” in Genesis 17, while Sarai becomes “Sarah” puts his faith in God. Abram performs a covenant ceremony to seal God’s promise to him. In this reading it is not Abram but God who “makes” a covenant by passing between the pieces in the form of a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch. God gifts the land of Israel to Abram’s descendants.
Philippians 3: 17 – 4: 1
Paul alludes to Jesus’ “glorified body” to describe our transformation in Christ from human bodies into resurrected bodies. He tells the Philippians to stand firm in their belief in “the cross,” meaning both crucifixion and resurrection. Are the Philippians ultimately citizens of Rome or citizens of Christ? Those who place their trust in the cross and Jesus’ resurrection will be transformed to conform with or become part of Christ’s glorified body.
Luke 9: 28b-36
Each year on the Second Sunday of Lent, we read the Gospel account of the transfiguration. Jesus and His disciples go up a mountain to pray as Moses did to receive the commandments in Exodus and as Elijah did to hear the “voice in a tiny whispering sound,” (1 Kings 19). Mountains are places of encounter with the Divine.
Reflection
God’s promises can overwhelm us in life. We may not always fully understand God’s promises to us. What are the promises that God makes to you in this Lent 2022? We are in the process of being transformed, like our catechumens and candidates for reception into our church at the great Easter Vigil. We will be transformed, made new. How are you being made “new” so far in this second week of Lent?
The call of transformation/transfiguration is a call to listen and follow that call. In the Gospel God tells us to “listen” to Jesus. The call to listen leads to transformation. How are you “listening” to God this day, this second week of Lent?
Reflect on the mountaintop experience. How can it sustain you even in rough times and during those dry moments of life and during those dry moments of your spiritual life? God calls Abraham and He says “go” and Abraham listens. Could you do the same at this time in your life also?
Why do you think the disciples fell asleep on this holy mountain and in the garden at Gethsemane before Jesus was handed over? What are some things you can do to stay awake so that you will glimpse the glory of God?