2nd Sunday of Lent

The Transfiguration was a turning point in the life of Jesus.  Imagine what it must have been like for Jesus to hear the voice of the Father say, “This is my beloved Son.”  He already knew that He was God’s son, but just as when someone who loves us actually says, “I love you,” it must have been wonderful for Jesus to hear the Father speak from the cloud. 

In the same way, being transfigured into glory must have given Jesus strength, determination, and joy as He drew close to the time of His Passion and Cross.  How good God the Father was to Jesus to allow Him to experience ahead of time the glory that would be His after His death.

Scripture remind us that suffering has to come first and after that comes glory.  It was true for Jesus, and it will be true for us.  When we take up our cross, we suffer as Jesus did.  But if we are faithful in following Jesus all of our life, we will share in His glory as well. 

The first reading from Genesis 22 tells us how Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.  The story teaches us that we need to be willing to surrender everything to God.  God did not actually want Abraham to sacrifice his son.  It was a test.  And Abraham passed.  Abraham trusted God completely and was obedient, even when asked for the unthinkable, and so God blessed him.  Abraham had total faith and trust in God and we need to have the same.

In the second reading from Romans 8, St. Paul tells us that if God is for us, who can be against us?  God was willing to hand over His only Son for us, so how can God not give us everything else as well? We need to believe and know deep down in our heart that God loves us more than we can imagine.  God has paid the price for us by offering up Jesus, His only Son.  We forget how amazing and life-changing God’s love can be for us.

Here is a prayer to say during these days of Lent:

Lord, help us to trust in Your love, especially when we are suffering, so that we might share in Your glory.  Amen.