A reflection based on the readings of the second Sunday of lent year A

NAME: MUOGBO MICHAEL

COURSE: HOMILETICS

COURSE CODE: SS/BTH/221

LECTURER: FR. DR. ANTHONY EWHERIDO

A reflection based on the readings of the second Sunday of lent year A

(First reading Gen.12:1-4, Psalm 33:4-5.18-19.20.22 second reading 2 Tim.1:8b-10, gospel Matt. 17:1-9).

In the first reading, God calls out Abram from his home country. The psalmist beckons on the Lord’s merciful love, bringing to our awareness that the love of God marks the one who receives and acknowledges it. In the second reading Paul writes to Timothy explaining to him that God calls not in virtue of our works but in virtue of His purpose and grace. The gospel reading presents us with the story of the transfiguration.

In the midst of the themes that can be drawn from the readings of today, I would like to focus on the theme of ‘conscious effort’ which cuts across the first reading and the gospel. The first reading presents us with the terms of the covenant God made with Abram which requires that he changes his location; leaving his kindred and father’s house behind. The call of Abram summons him away from his old life and invites him to a new relationship. Abram was called, but he made a conscious effort to respond and move.  However, Abram’s journey was a foretaste of what would happen to his descendants later.

In the gospel, Jesus took three of his apostles and led them up a high mountain. The apostles on their part made a conscious effort to follow. Climbing the mountain required that the apostles drop unnecessary loads behind. Jesus led the apostles away from the noise of the environment to the serenity of the mountain top. The Transfiguration was the experience of the apostles which prepared them for their future trials. It was a momentary turn-away from distractions. It offered the apostles the privilege of a foretaste of the glory of Christ, so that, perceiving the correlation between the passion and the resurrection, it would enable them to overcome their shock in the wake of the passion prediction and accept the reality of the cross as a path to the glory of the resurrection. However, as recounted by the second reading, it is not by our merit, but by the grace of God.

In this season of lent, God calls us out of our old life to unite ourselves with the passion of the Lord, so that we can share in the glory of His resurrection. Brothers! Let us keep in mind that relying on the grace of God for salvation we should make a conscious effort towards conversion. May the Good Lord bless his word in our hearts. Amen.