Words of Spirit and Life

*We use Readings from Year A because the church will be having Baptism on Easter Vigil.

Theme: LENT IS A TIME WHEN WE RENEW AND STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH  

• Genesis 12:1-4;
• Psalm 32:4-5. 18-20. 22. R/ v. 22;
• 2 Timothy 1:8-10
• Matthew 17:1-9

1. Today is the Second Sunday of Lent. Lent is a time when we prepare to celebrate Easter. Particularly, Lent is a time when we prepare to celebrate the sacrament of Baptism on Easter Vigil night!

    For those who will be baptized, Lent is a time of final preparation for baptism. But for those who are already baptized, Lent is a time to prepare to renew our baptism on Easter Vigil night!

    Lent is therefore a time for us to renew and strengthen our faith! That is why during this time of Lent, the Church asks us to pray, to fast, and to give alms to the poor!

2. The gospel today tells us of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The Lord was transfigured. His face shone like the sun and his clothes were white as light. And a voice from the bright cloud said: This is my beloved Son. My favor rests on him. Listen to him. Listen to him, especially when he tells you about his passion, death and resurrection. (CSB) After the Transfiguration, Jesus told the disciples not to tell anyone about it until he has risen from the dead.

    The transfiguration was a preview and a prefigure of the Resurrection! The Transfiguration was to strengthen the faith of the disciples for the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. (Fuller; Lefrois; Raas)

    That is why in all the three gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Transfiguration is placed immediately after the first prediction of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, and immediately after Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to take up their crosses and follow him: He who saves his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake will save it!

    Again, the Transfiguration was a preview of the Resurrection, to prepare the faith of the disciples for the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   

3. The first reading follows the theme of the gospel. The first reading tells us of the faith of Abraham. (NJB; CCB)

    In the first reading, God tells Abraham to leave his country, his family and his father’s house and go to a land that God will show him; and God will make him into a great nation; and God will bless him and through him God will bless all the nations of the world.

    Abraham did as God told him to do. Indeed, Abraham is a father in faith, not only for the Christians, but also for the Jews and the Muslims! Abraham was 75 years old and his wife was barren!     

4. The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. Thus the response of the responsorial psalm:

    “May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.” (Ps 32 (33): 22; SM)

    The responsorial psalm has three stanzas. The first stanza tells us of God’s creative word. God created the whole universe through his word! The second stanza tells us that God is our savior. In fact, God is our only savior. (NJBC) The third stanza tells us that the community of faith places their hope in God. (HCSB) Thus again, the response of the responsorial psalm:

    “May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.” (Ps 32 (33): 22; SM)  

5. The second reading tells us to preach the good news. More than that, the second reading tells us to suffer for the good news. The good news is that salvation is attained not by our good works, but by the grace of Jesus Christ! (CSB) And it is this grace of Jesus Christ that we receive in the sacrament of baptism on Easter Vigil night!

6. Again, Lent is a time when we prepare to celebrate Easter. Particularly, Lent is a time when we prepare to celebrate the sacrament of baptism on Easter Vigil night. Lent is therefore a time to renew and strengthen our faith. That is why in this time of Lent, the Church asks us to pray, to fast, and to give alms to the poor. A happy Lent to all of you!

 Amen!