Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent Year B
Theme: Encounter the Transfigured JESUS on the mountain of Mercy !
By: Rev. Sr Justine Oluchi Egbedike
Homily for Sunday February 28 2021
*SCRIPTURAL TEXTS*
Genesis 22: 1-2.9a.10-13.15-18, Ps 116: 10 and 15.16-17.18-19 (R. 9), Romans 8: 31b-34, Mark 9:2-10)
Child of God, have you ever had time to reflect on the readings of the second Sunday of Lent?
Someone describes it as “the Sunday of the three mountains” because in the first reading (Gen 22) we read about Abraham on Mount Moriah who obeyed God by wanting to sacrifice his only Son Isaac; the second reading captured, the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary and finally, the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ took place in the Gospel, on Mount Tabor.
Today Jesus the New Isaac on the mount of Tabor becomes a sacrificial victim on the Altar of the Cross, to pay for the sins of humanity.
We experience the threefold dimension of Jesus’ role as the altar of sacrifice, the lamb of sacrifice and the High Priest who offers Himself daily on our behalf for the remission of our sins and those of the whole world.
*May we listen to the Gospel (Mark 9:2-10):*
At that time: Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
Jesus in the new testament, is the fulfillment of the old testament. The above Gospel will again feature prominently on 6th August which is the Feast of Transfiguration.
There and on that day, we would be at liberty to reflect on glorious and transfigured nature of Jesus’ appearance.
But in Lent, care must be taken to ponder on the *process leading to the glorification*.
Particularly, the personalities and the discussion they had with Jesus.
Mark’s Gospel was silent on the Subject of discussion but Luke stated it was about Jesus’ passing in Jerusalem.
Beloved, In the above Gospel, you can see that Jesus took his dicisples to the mountain and was TRASNSFIGURED for a purpose. Although Peter wanted the ecstasy and that spectacle to be prolonged when he said “Lord it is good we remain here” on top of the mountain. Jesus paid no heed to him.
The God of the Mountain is the same as the God of the Valley. Jesus invites you and me at this particular time to journey with him to the mountain, knowing well that it is not easy to climb a mountain but when we succeed to get to the mountain top with our daily crosses of life, everything about us would change unto good, sorrows and tears change to joy, and on the mountain, the light is clearer and God blesses all the efforts we make during this Lenten time.
As Christians, we must not forget that climbing mountains, make us to unite and attach ourselves to Jesus more and more.
Let us imitate Abraham whose attachment and obedience to God led him to accept to sacrifice his only son Isaac on mount Moriah. This must provoke in us the willingness to trust and serve the true God alone.
Jesus on mount Calvary shows us that HE is the way, the truth and the life through his death and Resurrection. Then the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor calls us to trust in the glory that awaits us having mortified our flesh by shunning vice and growing in virtue during Lent.
Beloved, a time of grace has come for you to chose one of these MOUNTAINS and climb it with faith. Although, it is hard and painful, with lots of thorns on the way, remember however, that the grace of God is enough for you.
Let us persevere in following Jesus, so that we may come down with him in glory.
*Let us pray:*
Lord Jesus, you are the Sacrificial Lamb of God who has done all for us. Increase our faith like that of Abraham (Genesis 22: 1-2.9a.10-13.15-18) that we may sacrifice our hearts to you in doing good. You tested Abraham with the sacrifice of his only son Isaac to teach us to stop the sacrifice and killing of human beings and transformed it by your life on the cross of Calvary. May your everlasting sacrifice purify us and make us better. Amen.
Happy 2nd Sunday of Lent and Happy new week of continous journey to the mountain to come down with VICTORY.
Always on my knees for you in prayers.
Your Rev. Sr Justine Oluchi Egbedike, Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco.