First Reading: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

Reflection:

This Sunday’s first reading recounts God’s covenant with Abraham. God had called Abraham to leave his hometown of Ur (which is in modern-day Iraq) and travel to a place that He would show him. Abraham trusted in God and set out on a journey of faith, which led him to the Promised Land (modern-day Israel). God invited Abraham to trust Him again by telling Abraham that he would have many descendants who would possess the land. God’s invitation for Abraham to count the stars in the sky and Abraham’s response evidences the great faith Abraham had for a couple reasons. First, the context reveals that God’s invitation came during the daytime. In other words, He asked Abraham to go outside in broad daylight and “count the stars, if you can.” This task would be impossible at night, let alone in broad daylight when one could not see a single star. Abraham had to trust that they were there even if he couldn’t see them. Second, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were childless at an old age. With no children, how could their descendants number as many as the stars? Abraham trusted God completely, despite not knowing how these promises would be possible.

When Abraham asked God how he could be sure of the promise of his possession of the land, the Lord invited Abraham to enact a covenant with Him. Typical of that time period, Abraham was instructed to gather animals to be sacrificed as part of the covenant ritual. Abraham was following common custom at the time by splitting the animals in two and setting the two parts opposite one another. To make a covenant, the two parties involved would then walk in-between the animal parts to enact the covenant. In essence, the symbolism of this act was to say, may the same thing happen to me as has happened to these animals if I break this covenant. The unique thing about Abraham’s covenant was that God was the other party. And as Abraham’s vision indicates, God Himself walked in-between the pieces of the animals (represented by the “smoking fire pot” and “flaming torch”) to enact it. Thus, God promised never to break the covenant He made with Abraham, or else even God Himself would take upon Himself the fate of the animals.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17—4:1

Reflection:

The Apostle Paul here reminds us of the promises of God to those who are faithful to Him. Just like God promised Abraham the Promised Land, He extends to us the promise of the true Promised Land, Heaven. Eternity with God in heaven is the goal of our lives. But too often our “minds are occupied with earthly things.” We get caught up in all the fleeting pleasures of this world (this is what is meant by “their God is their stomach”). God gave everything on the cross so we could be set free from sin and allowed into heaven. But in order to receive that promise of heaven, we must “stand firm in the Lord.” We must “conduct [ourselves] according to the model” of the apostles and many other saints who have gone before us. By God’s grace, the goal of heaven is attainable if we live for God on earth. 

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28B-36

Reflection:

The gospel reading this Sunday recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus. Here, the glory of Jesus was revealed to Peter, James, and John (Jesus’ closest followers), as it would later be shown to all after Jesus’ resurrection. Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament, so their appearance makes evident Jesus’ connection with the Old Testament story that He came to fulfill. The fact that they were speaking of Jesus’ “exodus” brings to mind the exodus from Egypt in the time of Moses. While that exodus resulted in freedom from slavery in Egypt, the new exodus that Jesus would “accomplish in Jerusalem” was His death and resurrection that would free His followers from slavery to sin and death. This new exodus would be led by the Son of God Himself and would have the same end in mind as the first: the Promised Land. This time, however, the Promised Land is not a mere piece of property but Heaven itself. The words, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him” must have echoed in the minds of Peter, James, and John for the rest of their lives. These words definitively revealed Jesus’ identity. He is the Son of God! The command to “listen to him” is a call to faith and obedience. Today too we should “listen” to and trust in Jesus. If we do, we will have the opportunity to one day encounter the risen Lord in all His glory in Heaven. 

Application:

  • Would you trust God like Abraham did, even when what God says sounds impossible? In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more?
  • Is the primary goal of your life to get to Heaven? Do your priorities and actions evidence that goal? Lent is the perfect time to refocus so as to occupy our minds with heavenly things, rather than with “earthly things.” What do you need to do to develop a heavenly perspective?