SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
13 MARCH 2022
During
Lent, we use the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as tools
to help us turn more completely to the Lord.
We enter more deeply into a relationship with the Lord when we
pray. As we pray, we become more aware
of the mystery of God, which keeps us in our human limitations from knowing God
completely. The vast mystery of God can
make our faith frustrating. Our
scripture readings today provide insights into the journey to faith which involves
trusting in God in both times of darkness and times of light.
God gave
Abram two promises. Abram has already received
the first of those promises. He is
living in the Promised Land. But Abram
has also spent decades in darkness, waiting for the granting of the other promise. He has not been given a son. As he advances in age, God’s promise seems to
have faded. But Abram trusts God’s
promise that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky
(pictured in the Covenant with Abram in our center aisle). Abram expresses his faith in God’s promise by
cutting up animals and putting the carcasses on either side of the road. He walks between the animals, stating that he
would rather be cut up like these animals than go back on his word. Then God provides light for Abram under the
appearance of a smoking fire pot and flaming torch passing through the carcasses. God will not go back on his word.
In today’s
Gospel, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain to
pray. He has just told his disciples the
dark truth that he is called to be a suffering servant. He will be executed like a common criminal
and buried in a tomb, to be raised three days later. In a blazing instant, the face of Jesus is
changed in appearance. His clothing
becomes dazzling white. In this
mysterious light, he converses with Moses and Elijah, and he speaks of his
exodus that he would accomplish in Jerusalem.
Then they
hear a voice from heaven. They had
already heard that voice at the Jordan when Jesus was baptized, calling Jesus “my
chosen Son.” They hear it again and are
told to listen to him. Only after the
Lord’s death and resurrection would it occur to Peter, James, and John what
happened on this mountain. They have
been given a glimpse into the mysterious light of the Lord’s true identity as
God’s chosen Son. They would understand
that he has fulfilled the prophecy of the Law (Moses) and the prophets
(Elijah). However, on another hilltop
outside of Jerusalem, Jesus would be hanging on a cruel cross in abject agony. The heavens will fall silent. Jesus will not be surrounded by Moses and
Elijah. He will be surrounded by two
thieves. There is no shining light –
only complete darkness.
In our journey of faith, we also go
through times when there is great light.
In those times, we feel the Lord’s bright presence in our lives. At other times, we are plunged in darkness,
and the Lord seems to be distant or not present at all. We can learn from the experience of Abram,
who trusted the Lord’s promise even in the midst of the darkness of infertility. We can learn from Peter, James, and John in
their darkness. They walked from the glory
of the Mount of the Transfiguration to the horror of Mount Calvary. Only then would they understand what Jesus
meant by his exodus he would accomplish in Jerusalem. In entering more deeply into prayer this
Lent, we reflect on the bright moments of our relationship with Jesus
Christ. In fasting, we connect more
readily with the darkness of so many people in the world who do not have enough
to eat. In almsgiving, we share the
gifts we have been freely given by the Lord to bring a bit of light to those in
need. We continue to turn to the Lord. We renew our faith in him, present both in those
times of bright light and in those times of unbearable darkness.
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