Second Sunday of Lent Homily

Brothers and sisters, each of today’s scripture readings for the Second Sunday of Lent provide us with interesting parallels and paradoxes that I would like to reflect on in my homily. I hope that you can draw from this reflection the promises that we all hope to attain through Jesus our Lord, the beloved Son whom God invites us to listen to.

First, let’s reflect on the parallels of our scripture readings from the book of Genesis, the Gospel of Mark, and the letter to the Romans. Notice that our Lenten season continues with another story of testing. Last Sunday, we heard about Jesus in the desert and the temptations he endured.

In this week’s first reading from Genesis, we hear of how Abraham was put to the test. A test that quite honestly is difficult to understand and comprehend. Abraham is commanded by God to take Isaac his only son, whom he loves, and to take him to the Land of Moriah where he is to offer him as holocaust on an altar on a mountaintop. This reading is difficult to fathom for what parent would be willing to sacrifice his son or daughter? As we hear the drama unfold we are relieved that God’s messenger from heaven intervenes in stopping Abraham as he is about to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham offers instead a ram that God provides as a holocaust to God.

The Church has always offered this reading as a foreshadowed sign of God’s love for the world in giving His only-begotten son Jesus. In today’s second reading from the letter to the Romans, St. Paul uses exact words drawn from this story to describe such parallel in how God, like Abraham, did not withhold His only Son, but handed Him over for us on the Cross.

In our gospel from St. Mark, we are atop a mountain and hear about Jesus’s encounter with the Old Testament Prophet, Elijah, and the Law Giver, Moses. In the Gospel we hear Jesus called God’s “beloved Son”—as Isaac is described as Abraham’s beloved son. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. Mount Tabor is a parallel symbol of the cross and of struggle. Herein lies the paradox: Peace, joy, and hope are often the products of struggles, hard mountain climbs and difficulties. These things are often the prelude to seeing and experiencing glory.

Brothers and sisters, in your life, is there something that you are struggling with and have difficulty accepting? If so, it will most likely be related to God’s call to you to take up your cross and follow Him. The Cross of Christ comes in many forms throughout life. It might be experienced when we allow the passion of anger to die so that pure mercy can be offered to one who has hurt us. Or it might be that God is calling you to step out in faith to embrace some endeavor that requires courage and trust. Or it might be that God is calling you to accept some hardship in life that is difficult to accept, such as the loss of a loved one, an illness, the loss of a job, or any other difficulty that you struggle to accept with love and trust. Bitterness, resentment, anger, fear, and the like are often the most difficult crosses we are called to embrace and let die.

Here then lies the promise. Just as Jesus’ transfiguration was an important moment for the apostles to witness, it would in the end strengthen them. Therefore, these readings are given to us in Lent to reveal Christ’s identity and to strengthen us in the face of our afflictions. As Jesus gives the apostles hope and inspiration through this sacred encounter and although it lasted for only a short time, this manifestation of Jesus’ glory was all that these apostles needed to begin to accept our Lord’s prediction of His passion. On one hand, they feared what Jesus said was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. But on the other hand, they saw His glory and majesty. By combining these two experiences, these apostles were given a new hope and strength to trust that whatever was to happen in the future, God was in control.

We also need the consoling revelation of our Lord’s glory to help us navigate the difficulties we will endure. For some, life is good, very good, and they walk with joy and ease with our Lord. But for others, life has taken a difficult turn and confusion has set in. If life is good for you right now, then rejoice that you are currently sharing a taste of the glory of the Transfiguration. Give thanks to God and tell Him, “It is good that we are here!” If life is difficult for you right now, ponder how the disciples struggled with the prediction of the Lord’s passion. Think about their confusion, doubts, and fear. As you do, turn your eyes up the mountain. Know that the glory of God awaits you and that He wants to free you from all fear and anxiety.

In conclusion, life’s mountain is climbed by a firm faith that is grounded in prayer. This Lent, make that journey with our Lord through prayer and know that even in good and bad times, he loves you and will never abandon you. He promised this. As Jesus believed in the face of His afflictions that God loosed Him from the bonds of death. His rising should give us the courage to face our trials, to offer ourselves totally to the Father—as He did, as Abraham and Isaac did. Freed from death by His death, we come to this Mass to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and as we sang in our Responsorial Psalm to renew our vows—as His servants and faithful ones.

Dcn. Ronnie San Nicolas