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Reflections
for Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Second Sunday of Lent is about transfiguration and about our covenant
with the Lord. It is about God and about us: how and why we relate to
each other.
God promises Abram, who will become Abraham, that his descendants will be
as numerous as the stars. Abram believes in God. God promises us the
forgiveness of our sins. Do we believe in God? God makes a covenant with
Abram and by our baptism we also have a covenant with God.
Was Abram always faithful to God in every aspect of his life? No. He was
a sinner like the rest of us. He was faithful in believing and in
repenting. Belief does not take away our sinfulness but allows God to
begin His work within us. The life of faith is a life of following God and
seeking to do God's will in our life. Some people seem to become
transformed (transfigured) sooner than others. Perhaps it has to do with
their personal commitment and perhaps it has to do with what God wants of
them.
In the Gospel we have the account of the transfiguration of Jesus. It is a
moment when His divinity shines through His humanity and the disciples get
a small glimpse of God in human flesh. Peter and his companions saw the
glory of Jesus.
There may be times in our own lives when we are very aware of the presence
of God. Such experiences draw us to God but do not necessarily transform
us immediately. We know that Peter goes on to deny Christ and then finally
to embrace Him in faith once more.
This Sunday is very important to help us understand that God loves us,
wants to have a covenant with us and wants to share His life with us. God
wants us to walk in His ways. God recognizes our weakness but expects us
to put all of our trust in Him. The Letter to the Ephesians sums this up
with these words: Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await
a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform
with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all
things into subjection to himself.
The glory of the Lord awaits us. Our task in this life is to put our faith
in Him and to let Him transform us and draw us from our sinfulness into His
own life. Lent is a special time to deepen our faith and walk in His ways.
Readings of the day:
First Reading: Genesis 15.5-12, 17-18
Second Reading: Philippians 3.17 – 4.1
Gospel: Luke 9.28b-36
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Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
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