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.