March 13: That amazing grace will lead us home to heaven into the arms of the Father of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
March 13, 2022 Second Sunday of Lent
Introduction
Have you ever had one of those moments or experiences that you wish you could just freeze in time?
- It was a time when everything was just right and Life was so perfect that you wished the experience would never end.
- Maybe it was a wonderful day with friends or maybe it was a vacation.
- Maybe it was a beautiful place that you visited.
- It was a moment when everything seemed peaceful, joyous and just right.
- It was an experience that you wished you could prolong forever and never end.
Readings
Our readings today provide two such experiences.
Abraham
In the first reading we meet Abraham. God has made Abraham a fantastic promise.
- He promises Abraham and Sarah that their descendants will be as numerous as the stars in heaven.
- Furthermore, God promises them that he will give them a piece of land, a country that will be their own.
It is an amazing promise.
- God tells Abraham to look up at the sky and count the stars if you can.
- He tells him, “Your descendants will be just that numerous”.
- Have you ever tried to count the stars in the night sky?
- There are lots of them.
- However, there’s more. If God had taken Abraham outside at night and told him to count the stars, it would be amazing enough.
- Something strange happens.
- God takes him out during the daytime.
- Later in our reading it says the sun sets and a terrible darkness encompasses the land.
- It becomes one of those life changing moments in Abraham’s life.
- It is a moment he will never forget when life and future all come together in a single moment.
Abraham enters into a trance and the covenant between God and Abraham is sealed.
Faith of Abraham
There is more to the story than this. At the heart of the experience is Abrahams faith.
- God makes a tremendous promise.
- It is a promise of descendants and land.
- However, at this point Abraham and Sarah are childless.
- They are advanced in age and the prospect of childbearing has passed.
- When God showed Abraham the stars and it was daylight, it demanded faith
- Even though Abraham could not see the stars, he knew they were there.
- The same is true of the promise.
- Abraham trusted, that in spite of what seemed impossible, God could do what he promised.
Abraham believed and God fulfilled the covenant promise.
Transfiguration
The gospel for today contains the magnificent description of the transfiguration.
- Early in the morning Jesus summons Peter, John and James and tells them that they are going for a hike.
- They are going to climb Mount Tabor located in central Galilee.
- Actually, it is an extinct volcano.
- The climb would have been a challenge since the mountain is quite steep.
- Once they arrive at the summit, they have a spectacular view of Galilee.
- Jesus raises his hands in prayer.
- Suddenly, before their eyes Jesus undergoes a magnificent transformation.
- His clothes become dazzling white and his face as bright as the sun itself.
- Within moments, two men appear: Moses and Elijah who seem to be speaking to Jesus.
- They are conversing about what will soon happen in Jerusalem.
- The disciples are entirely overcome by the splendor of the moment.
- It becomes one of those defining moments that Peter hoped would never end.
- Everything was perfect. Peter exclaims, “Lord, it is good that we are here!”
- If possible, Peter wished that this moment would endure forever.
- Obviously, it would in the memory of his heart.
- A voice is heard from the cloud, “this is my chosen Son, listen to him”
- Within moments, the vision stops and they all fall silent. What an experience!
- The glory of God had permeated every molecule and atom of the human body of Jesus.
- he Transfiguration was unforgettable.
Faith
Faith of Abraham
Each of these stories speak to us of the importance of faith.
- Abraham believed in God‘s promises.
- Even though he and Sarah were in their 80’s, he believed that somehow God would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.
- Even though Abraham could not see the stars during the daylight hours, he knew they were there.
- He trusted that God would be faithful.
Faith of the Apostles
The same thing is true for Peter, James and John.
- At the time of the Transfiguration they did not realize the future events that would unfold.
- This moment of transfiguration and glory would be impressed into their memory forever.
- Their faith in Jesus would be strengthened by this vision when they viewed his arrest, suffering and crucifixion.
- Jesus permitted this moment so that, in spite of the future suffering and death, they would remember that truly he is The son of God.
God is with us
On this second Sunday of Lent we are reminded that we are called to be people of faith.
- Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for and the conviction of things that we do not see.
- It is the realization that God loves us and walks with us in the journey of life.
- In spite of difficulties, struggles and problems. God is with us.
- He promised Abraham.
- He promised the apostles.
- He promises us as well.
Conclusion
In the Transfiguration The disciples kept their eyes focused on Jesus.
- In those moments they witnessed the manifestation of his glory.
- Similarly, we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus as well.
- When we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the power of faith will guide us through difficulties and struggles.
- The Transfiguration of Jesus speaks to us about our own transformation.
- By the power of God‘s grace, we too are being transformed.
That amazing grace will lead us home to heaven into the arms of the Father of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
March 6: Temptation as opportunity for growth
March 6, 2022 First Sunday of Lent
Introduction
I’m going to start out by asking you a question, “are you closer to God today than you were on the first Sunday of Lent last year”
- In other words, are you a better Christian than you were a year ago or are you holier today than you were a year ago.
- Those are difficult questions.
- At times, they might make us uncomfortable.
- That’s good because when we are uncomfortable, our spirit becomes restless.
- Lent is the time to be uncomfortable.
- Frequently when we are uncomfortable it signals an opportunity to grow.
Lent is the time to return to basics.
- It is the time to strip away all that is superficial and concentrate on that which is essential in our spiritual journey.
- By nature, we are hard wired for God.
- As St. Augustine put it, “our hearts are restless until they rest in you O Lord.”
The Gospel
On this first Sunday of Lent Saint Luke records the temptations of Jesus.
- Jesus himself enters deeply into the human experience of facing the lure of Temptation.
First Temptation
The first temptation begins rather strangely.
- Satan starts out with these words, “if you are the son of God then turn these stones into bread.”
- The case may be that the devil was uncertain concerning Jesus’ true identity.
- Maybe he wasn’t so sure that Jesus was the Savior or the Son of God.
- As a result, he prefaces his temptation with a condition: “if you are the Son of God…”
- Jesus is hungry after having fasted for 40 days.
- The devil is tempting Jesus to give into sensual pleasure and satisfy his appetite.
Application
Seeking Pleasure is at the heart of this first temptation.
- The devil is tempting Jesus to make physical pleasure the center of his life.
- Sometimes, we are tempted in the same direction.
- When life is difficult and problem and struggles arise, we can be tempted to lose our self in pleasure.
- Jesus responds, “One does not live on bread alone.”
- The implication is that the human soul can never be truly satisfied by the pleasures of this world.
Second temptation
Then we come to the second temptation.
At this point the devil leads Jesus up to a high mountain and displays for him all of the kingdoms of the world and all of their riches.
- The devil tells him all of this can be yours if you fall down before me.
- This is a temptation toward power.
- Jesus ‘response is very simple. “You shall worship the Lord your God and him alone.”
- Jesus wants us to know that there is no power on earth hat can ever quiet the longings of the human heart.
Application
There is a desire in each of us to control.
- Power means control.
- We like to control others, ourselves and most of all, our future.
- That’s the reason why we have war and conflicts.
- So many times, people have found the desire and pursuit of power irresistible.
Third temptation
The final temptation is a temptation to pride.
- Finally, Satan takes Jesus to one of the towers of the temple in Jerusalem.
- There, he urges him to throw himself down, confident that God will take care of him and send angels to protect him.
- There still must have been some doubt and frustration in the devil’s maneuvering since he begins this final temptation with the same words that initiated the first one, “if you are the Son of God.…”
- Although this temptation is subtle, it is most clever.
- The temptation to pride is to put oneself at the center of the universe.
- Even so making God himself one of his attendants or servants.
Application
In selfishness, it’s easy to think the world revolves around ourselves and our interests and needs.
- The sin of pride was the devil’s own sin that caused him to fall.
- He wanted to be in control and be like God.
- Actually, he thought he was equal or superior to God himself.
- Jesus responds, “you shall not put the Lord your God to the test!”
Temptation in our lives
We face temptations every day.
- Most of them are temptations in small things.
- However once in a while, we are tempted in a big way.
- n the gospel story Jesus confronts temptation and remains faithful and obedient to the Father.
- Actually in the gospel, Jesus confronts the root of human temptation and sinfulness: pleasure, power and pride.
- In one way or another those temptations continue to plague humanity.
- They form the basis for the temptations that each of us confronts.
- In realizing our weaknesses and temptations, we are in a better place to be able to overcome them with the grace of God.
- Getting to know the root of our sinfulness and temptations arms us more affectively in our spiritual battle against evil.
Temptation as opportunity for growth
Remember, temptation is not sin.
- In fact every temptation is really an opportunity for us to exercise our trust in the power of God‘s grace.
- Jesus was tempted and remained faithful.
- Jesus has overcome temptation.
- With his grace we too can overcome the temptations in our lives.
Conclusion
During these Lenten days we are invited to focus on the basics of our spiritual life.
- On this first Sunday of lent we are confronted with our own temptations.
- By his obedience and faithfulness to the Father, we are reminded that Jesus has overcome temptation.
- Through prayer and fasting we discipline our wills.
- In Our Lenten practices we strengthen our willpower.
Gospel Challenge
So here’s the gospel challenge for this week.
- In your time of prayer, examine your life and the temptations that continually come to you on a daily basis.
- If you are aware of a particular weakness or habit of sin, invite Jesus to be with you.
- Ask him by the power of his grace to help you confront that temptation face-to-face.
- Ask Jesus to help you become the best version of yourself.
- Make these Lenten days a time of spiritual growth and holiness
