Friends, today we are celebrating the second Sunday of Lent year C, Our Mother Church encourages us not to rest in the material comforts of this world. Rather, we should march towards the Promised Land and our future glory. If we succeed in getting there, the Lord in whom we put our trust and faith will transfigure our mortal bodies into the likeness of his glorified body. The readings of today invite us to reflect on God’s faithfulness, our heavenly citizenship, and His glory in our lives. The readings teach us about trust in God’s promises, living with an eternal focus, and allowing God’s glory to shine through us. Lord, help us to trust in Your promises like Abraham. Guide us to live as citizens of heaven, focusing on Your glory. Open our hearts to Your work in our lives. May we reflect Your love and light to the world.
Friends, our first reading, and the gospel have a lot in common. Both of them narrate the revelation of the glory and splendor of the future. First, due to Abraham’s faith, God revealed to him the glory that would be his in the future. Not only did God reveal this to Abraham, but he also sealed it with a covenant. This is an assurance that He will fulfill his promise to Abraham. God tells Abraham his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. This shows God’s faithfulness and His plan for our salvation. God’s promise is not just words but is backed by a covenant. This covenant assures Abraham of his future and the land for his descendants. God’s covenant with Abraham is a powerful sign of His commitment to His people. Abraham did not doubt God’s promise. He believed even when it seemed impossible. This faith is what made him righteous before God. We, too, are called to trust in God’s promises.
Friends, the first reading of today reminds us about the importance of faith. Like Abraham, we need to trust God’s plan for us. Even when we cannot see the future, we must believe that God is faithful. His promises are sure, and His covenant is everlasting. We also see God’s commitment to His people through the covenant. It is a sign that God will never abandon us. He is always with us, guiding and protecting us. As we journey through Lent, let us remember God’s promise and covenant with us. In our lives, we can apply this message by trusting in God’s promises. No matter what challenges we face, we can have faith that God is with us. His commitment to us is unchanging. Let us hold on to this truth as we continue our Lenten journey.
Friends, the second reading of today brings us St. Paul’s message to live as citizens of heaven. He urges us to follow his example. This reminds us to focus on our heavenly home and not just on earthly things. St. Paul’s words are a call to live with our eyes on eternity. Brothers and sisters, living as citizens of heaven means prioritizing our spiritual life. We should seek to grow closer to God each day. Our actions and decisions should reflect our faith. We are called to live in a way that honors God and shows our hope in His promises.
Friends, St. Paul challenges us to evaluate our priorities. Are we more focused on earthly success or our relationship with God? St. Paul’s message encourages us to shift our focus. We should live in a way that prepares us for our heavenly home. This reading helps us understand the temporary nature of our earthly life. Our true home is with God in heaven. Everything we do should point towards this reality. As we reflect on St. Paul’s words, let us commit to living as citizens of heaven. In practical terms, this means making choices that reflect our faith. It means being kind, loving, and generous. It means staying close to God through prayer and the sacraments.
Friends, in the gospel of today Jesus revealed his future glory to Peter, James, and John, who are collectively referred to by Bible scholars as; “Members of the inner circle.” They saw the glory and splendor of God revealed in Christ, who represents the New Covenant; in Moses, who represents the Law; and in Elijah, who represents the Prophets. The transfiguration of Christ before His disciples is of great significance and has lots of lessons for us. Christ could have gone to the mountain alone, but he decided to take them with him. This was to assure His disciples that they were not wasting their time by following him. He did it to increase and strengthen their faith in Him. He did it to resolve the argument about his personality. Most importantly, He did it to assure us of the future glory we would enjoy if we remained faithful to the end.
Friends, another important lesson we must learn from today’s gospel comes from this narrative; “…Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they remained awake and saw his glory.” Of course, after a stressful day of mountain climbing, the disciples were tired. However, because they were curious and wanted to know why Christ brought them there, they struggled to be awake. Physically, they were asleep, but spiritually, they were awake to accomplish the task that got them there. Like these apostles, we too must remain spiritually awake this season to experience God’s glory. If we must behold the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ, we must be ready to make many sacrifices. The Lenten season offers us the opportunity to make sacrifices. It prepares us for future glory through prayers, good works, reflections, and self-denials. It is a time when we grow in grace to advance faithfully to the mountain of God’s glory.
Friends, we often miss God’s glory because we are focused on ourselves. We want to project a certain image to the world. But this blocks others from seeing God’s work in us. The readings today teach us to have faith in God’s promises, like Abraham did. When God told him his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, Abraham believed even though he couldn’t see it. We need to trust God’s vision for our lives. Abraham’s faith is an example for us. He believed in God’s promises even when they seemed impossible. We are called to have the same faith. Today, we are reminded to look for God’s glory in everyday life. It might be in small acts of kindness or moments of peace. When we open our hearts to God, His glory shines through us. We need to let go of our image and let God’s light be seen. The Lord be with you …. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Have a Blessed Sunday and a Prayerful Lenten Season
Pray With Us Online Rosary Every Monday @ 8 pm.
Remember we are pilgrims of Hope!
By: Fr. Ben Chola mccj
Aka Omuntu Wa Bantu
