Second Sunday of Lent - March 16, 2025 (Year C)

This week, I struggled in my first read through to find the common thread that I wanted to write about.  I think part of it was being distracted by the "big" events that are taking place, with God's promise to Abram in the First Reading and the Transfiguration depicted in the Gospel.  And with the weighty bookends on either side, I set my focus into St Paul's letter to look for the link, and, sure enough, there it was.

I am unable to fathom being a witness to either of the great events described today, where God comes down to us.  Despite that, St Paul's letter spells out just how we fit into the Divine Order of the world around us.  We are made to be citizens of heaven and to dwell in glorified bodies, not these mortal ones.  And the path towards that is through God - and in the Psalm, we sing that the Lord is our salvation and life.  

So with the theme and link established, what can we take away from the other readings, as we are unlikely to experience either event in our lifetimes.  In the promise God made to Abram, we have the fortune of looking back through time and seeing it fulfilled.  Abram was faithful to God, made the ritual sacrifices.  Translating that to us, God will notice our faithfulness and sacrifices, and eternal life and citizenship in heaven will be our reward.

Now with the Gospel's events, I wanted to focus more on Peter than the Jesus.  Put yourself in Peter's position, where you wake up and see the glory of Jesus fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament and conversing with these key figures of God's plan.  Upon realizing the import of the moment, Peter offers to build tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, and my assumption is that he is trying to prolong the moment.  Which one of us, seeing the glory of God's plan laid before us, would not try to stay in the moment longer?  But that is not for us in this world.  God tells Peter and the other two with him that Jesus is his Son and to listen to him.  And from there, they continue on their ministry, having deeper knowledge of the greater presence among them in Jesus and also the promise of joining in that glory following the completion of their life.

 

Disclaimer: This will be at the bottom of all reflections, but I’m not intending to put out any sort of professional critique, attempt at a homily, or investigation into the historicity of the readings, but will “let the Spirit move me” as some say, to share what has spoken to me in my reading and reflection on the set of Readings for each week.  

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