First Reading.Gen. 12: 1-4.
God shows Abraham a new land and a new beginning and promises him prosperity. Abraham had to leave everything; the land of his birth, his kith and kin so as to experience this new identity. Abraham obeys God in faith.
Second Reading. 2Tim.1:8b-10.
God chooses man to spread the Good News, not because of his worthiness but because of God’s overflowing goodness. Therefore we should be prepared to bear up our crosses for the sake of the Gospel.
Gospel. Mt. 17: 1-9.
The text is about Jesus’ Transfiguration. Jesus goes to the mountain with Peter, James and John. He is seen discussing His future mission with Moses and Elijah. The Apostles wish to remain there. Just then the heaven opens and proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God and that they should listen to Him.
Reflection.
Lent obviously is a season with penitential acts. During this period people pray more fervently and observe Lenten spiritual exercises like the daily holy Eucharist, Way of the Cross, Holy Hours, Vigils, Forty Days…etc. But the way of life thus entered into should not be restricted to this season alone, but be extended to the rest of our lives. Our mortifications, however big are nothing in comparison to the passion and death of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind.
In last Sunday’s reading we saw how one man’s fall brought suffering and death to the world. Jesus by being victorious over temptations brought salvation to mankind. Even today men’s wisdom, if well utilized could see him through to victory.
Life is full of challenges. When it comes to special calling as a ministry, a way of life for witnessing, life can pose numerous challenges to the believer. Those who march forward with these challenges will be victorious. Those who evade and dodge will fall by the wayside. Suffering contributes positively to our lives in that it makes us realize that we are not perfect and are very vulnerable and hence the need for the grace of God to surmount these obstacles.
In today’s first reading we see how Abraham takes a risk in accepting God’s invitation to set out to an unknown destiny. This would have caused him untold headaches. But the very pain of detachment eventually turns out the very source of trust and faith which makes Abraham the father of faith.
In the second reading Timothy is reminded of the necessity to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. If the preaching of the Good News is to bear fruit it has to involve sacrifices on the part of the preacher. In today’s Gospel account of the Transfiguration, Jesus is seen discussing issues with Moses and Elijah. Jesus could have decided his future plan of action on his own without any assistance or mediation. At a time when many are questioning about mediators and the right of the church for mediation this text is quite an eye opener.
The story of the Transfiguration is followed by the discourse on Jesus’ suffering, Jesus deliberately speaking of his passion to show that the Messiah is also the suffering servant depicted in the latter Isaiahan texts. Jesus rebukes Peter for his purely worldly manner of looking at issues. Jesus entered the glory through suffering, sacrifice mortification and finally death.
This should give us hope and strength to face life’s trials and travails with fresh outlook so that Jesus will be our model and finally our victory. This Lent should serve us to amend our lives and fall in line with the Way of the Cross.
Aid Story.
A nine year old girl said one day to her mother, “Mother, I have something to ask you, and I feel sure you will agree to it. It won’t be easy, but I believe and sure that it is what God wants.” “If that is true my daughter, how can your mother deny it?” “ What I want mother, is for you to disappoint me in pleasures, to scold me many times before my brothers and sisters and friends, although I may have given no cause for you; and also to put off sometimes when I come to hug you. But not all times.” “Why do you want me to do that my daughter?” “Because I’m very happy; I am not suffering for God and I feel I should suffer somewhat.” “Why?” “I don’t know, but I want to be a saint and therefore it is necessary for me to keep my temper or sulk or cry and be happy with everything. Isn’t it necessary to learn disappointments and suffering?” The mother took the girls hands, gently kissed her on the forehead, and raising her tear-filled eyes to the crucifix exclaimed. “Thank you God.”
Aid Story 2.
To show how He distributed His grace in the Eucharist, Christ made the following comparison to Saint Catherin of Siena.
He said to her in a vision. “My daughter, if you had a light in your hand and everybody brought a candle to light from it, wouldn’t the light and the fire remains the same? That is true; but if some would bring small candles and others large ones, don’t you think that although they were all lighted, the large candles would give more light and heat than the small ones? The same happens with the sacraments of My love.
Therefore, although it is true that the sacrament in itself gives grace that is received by everybody, it is also true that the amount of this grace depends on how we receive it.
Rev.Fr. Ciswan De Croos.
Marian year.
(John Henry Cardinal Newman)
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