Homily Second Sunday of Lent Year A Trust
Homily:
Second Sunday of Lent Year A
Reading
1: God has appeared to Abraham several times already. In those appearances God
told Abraham that he would bless him with many descendants, many blessings, and
a new land to call his own.
Abraham
was a nomad, going from place to place with his herds, seeking grazing lands
and fresh water. Abraham and Sara were barren and getting up in age. So the
first blessing sounded great, many descendants. Life for Abraham was difficult.
Promise of many blessings was comforting. To have a land of his own that he
could settle in sounded inviting.
What
did Abraham have to do in return? Trust the Lord, especially when things didn’t
happen as quickly as he would have liked. He had to first leave the security of
his family and the security of the life he was accustomed to and place his
security in the Lord.
If
God would reveal some promise to us would we be willing to put our trust and
security in him? But he has revealed a promise—eternal life with him, where the
blessings are beyond our imagination and expectations.
Gospel:
Jesus had invited the three disciples among others to follow him. The same
basic call Abraham received, they too had to leave their comfort zone and
embrace the life of a disciple and be formed by Jesus. He was preparing them
for what was to come.
Jesus
had shortly before this revealed that he was to suffer greatly at the hands of
others, be crucified as a criminal but rise again in three days. This they did
not want to hear. So Jesus invited the three to come aside with him for a time
of prayer.
As
part of their formation they experienced a glimpse of the promised life that
Jesus had spoken of. In his transfiguration Jesus experiences the glory that
was his as the Son of God. This glory would again be present when he would rise
from the dead and would again be seated at the right hand of the Father. He
revealed his glory to the three disciples because of the upcoming hardship he
had spoken of. He does this to strengthen them.
This
was just a passing experience, even though Peter wanted to remain there
forever. They would eventually share in his glory, if they listened to him and
put their trust in him. They would share in his glory, when they too shared in
his passion and death by dying to sin and living more fully in him.
Reading
2: Jesus has saved us and called us to a life of holiness, which comes not from
our works but from the grace of God. He saved us through his death and
resurrection. He destroyed the death that comes from sin. He has given us a
share in his own divine life through baptism and renewed and strengthened s in
the Eucharist. The promise is immortality with him in eternal peace and joy.
Do
we put our trust in God? God told Abraham to leave the security of his
surroundings and trust in him. He tells us that we are to bear our share of
hardship with the strength that comes from God. What is this hardship? Turning
away from sin and surrendering our life to God. Can we trust that God will be
sufficient for us or do we have to cling to the security of the pleasure of sin
or the darkness of sin? Yes, it is the security and comfort of sin that God is
asking us to walk away from and to follow him, trusting that he will provide
for our needs and ultimate desires.
About the Author
0 comments