First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4A
Reflection:
During Lent, the first readings recount the story of the Old Testament. Last week, the reading recounted the Creation and Fall of humanity. This week, we hear the account of the call of Abraham (or Abram, as he was known at this point). Abraham was called by God to leave his homeland of Ur, which is in modern-day Iraq, and travel to the Promised Land, which is modern-day Israel. He had to trust God completely in order to embark on this journey, since God did not tell him where he would lead him. Abraham obediently and faithfully “went as the LORD directed him,” traveling hundreds of miles as a result. God promised three things to Abraham: 1) the land itself, 2) that his descendants would become a great nation, and 3) that through his descendants would come worldwide blessing. The remainder of the Old Testament hinges on Abraham and these promises. Ultimately, we see the promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus offers us the true Promised Land of Heaven; He has built a great nation/kingdom out of those who share the faith of Abraham, which is the Church; and through Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, worldwide blessing is available.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Reflection:
God’s plan from “before time began” was to send Jesus Christ as Savior to the world. In this passage from the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he first reminds us that God gives us the strength we need to endure “hardship for the gospel.” Then, he speaks more directly about salvation. Salvation is a gift offered to us because of Jesus Christ’s work of redemption through His crucifixion and resurrection. By Jesus’ death (because He is fully God and fully man), He “destroyed death,” and by His resurrection, He “brought life and immortality.” In other words, it is because of Jesus that we can have salvation from sin and new life. Without Jesus, there would be no salvation from our sins and their consequences. This salvation is a gift offered to us freely by “the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus.” This is the good news of the gospel! Our responsibility is to accept God’s grace and cooperate with it, allowing it to bear fruit in our lives, so that we may live the “holy life” God calls us to live and spend eternity with God in heaven (i.e. become saints).
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-9
Reflection:
The Gospel this week recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus on a mountaintop. 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. Additionally, the events of the Transfiguration mimic the experiences of Moses on Mt. Sinai in Exodus 24, further evidencing Jesus’ continuity with the story of Israel.
As was typical, Peter spoke on behalf of the others at this event. Yet, his suggestion of pitching tents evidenced his lack of understanding. Therefore, he was interrupted by the magnificent revelation coming from heaven. The words, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him,” are similar to the words the Father spoke to the Son at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Those words and this event 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 are called to “listen” to Jesus, entrusting ourselves to His perfect will, knowing that He will always lead us to what is best, because He is the Son of God.
Application:
- Has there ever been a time in your life when God has asked you to take a big leap of faith, like Abraham experienced? What did you do? In prayer, ask God to show you where He wants you to go in life or what He may be calling you to do. Take time to listen to His voice leading you over the course of the coming weeks and months. If He asks you to do something, will you follow by trusting and obeying Him? He will never lead you astray.
- Thank God for the gift of salvation given to us through Jesus Christ. How can you better cooperate with God’s grace in your life in order to grow in holiness?
