A Homily – The Second Sunday of Lent (Year A)

A Homily – The Second Sunday of Lent (Year A)

First Reading – Genesis 12:1-4 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 32(33):4-5, 18-20, 22 ©

Second Reading – 2 Timothy 1:8-10 ©

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 17:5

The Gospel According to Matthew – 17:1 - 9 ©

 

(NJB)

  

Believe!

 Believe that it is possible for the entire world to be blessed through the actions of a single person.

 Believe it! Everything we say and do is a part of the whole, the reality of what is, conditioning he possibility of what may be. In this capacity we are divine agents in the process of creation.

 Know this:

 God, the creator of the universe, God does not intervene in human affairs. God does not show preference to one nation above another, one tribe over another, or one person over their sister and brother.

 God does not build nations, or intervene in their progress to make them great. God does not distribute blessings and curses capriciously. God has made every person, and the entire universe free.

 Be mindful of this!

 It is fitting to praise God. It is wise to trust in divine mercy; but do not expect God to rescue you from the dangers of the world. God does not intervene in worldly affairs, in any matter, public or private, great or small.  

 You have heard this said:

 God knows all things, God understands all things, but did you know that God’s knowledge is not an abstract knowledge of the particular details of individual events. God understands us, God knows our person, the choices we make and reason we make them, the divine spirit bears witness to our lives, understanding us even as we understand ourselves.

 Trust in God’s plan for you, in the plan for creation, but do not wait for salvation. Have faith in the divine who made you well at the beginning, proclaim it.

 We are saved already, we are saved by grace and no-one is excluded.

 Listen!

 We have been given the power to know the truth and love goodness, we are asked to be kind to be kind to one another and show mercy; Jesus showed you the way.

 Know this!

 Before the beginning of time God’s saving purpose was at work in creation. All that we experience here was conceived in the light of God’s salvific will.

 Let your mind dwell on this. God made us in the created order, and when God finished the divine work, God proclaimed that it was good, with us in it.

 Know this:

 God calls us to be holy, at all times the voice of God can be heard speaking in the heart, calling to us, inviting us into a life of compassion, the love that leads to wellbeing.

 God made us this way, and calls to us in this way, out of love. From the beginning of time God made plans for us, for all of us, determining that none shall be lost.

 Remember Jesus who revealed this through the love shared with the world, he showed us the way.

 Follow it!

 Consider the Gospel for today.

 As Christians we are bound to read it being mindful of its truthfulness. Therefore, let the Spirit of Truth guide us, even if it means rejecting the Gospel as written.

 Understand this:

 There may have been an event, when Jesus together with James and John went up the mountain by themselves.

 It may have been that at this time Jesus instructed his companions as to how his ministry was in keeping with that of Moses, the liberator and the law giver; as well as Elijah, the truthteller.

 Something like that may have happened but the supernatural events described in the reading for today…did not. All pretensions to supernatural activity must be read as metaphor or allegory, there is no other way.

 Be mindful!

 God does not engage in supernatural activities. God is the author of nature and of nature’s laws; God does not violate these laws for any reason.

 It may also be that Jesus wanted to connect his ministry to the mythology of Enoch, which was popular at this time, he may have taught this to the disciples, in order to prepare them for his passing and to establish the expectation of his return.

 Jesus did warn the disciples that his ministry would lead to his death, but like Enoch, the Son of Man, death would not stop him.

 Jesus may have wanted them to believe this, just as he may have wanted them to believe that the ministry of John the Baptist was being carried on through him.

 Read the Gospel in such a way that you strip away its fantastical elements, the magic and miracles; if they are not treated as metaphors, they elucidate nothing and insisting they are real is contrary to the way.

 Be mindful!

 This is not a historical narrative, but it tells us something about the historical faith of the community who compiled these texts, preserving them in this way for us to read.

First Reading – Genesis 12:1-4 ©

All the Tribes of the Earth Shall Bless Themselves by You

The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.

‘I will bless those who bless you: I will curse those who slight you.

All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’

So Abram went as the Lord told him.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 32(33):4-5, 18-20, 22 ©

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

The word of the Lord is faithful

  and all his works to be trusted.

The Lord loves justice and right

  and fills the earth with his love.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

The Lord looks on those who revere him,

  on those who hope in his love,

to rescue their souls from death,

  to keep them alive in famine.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord.

  The Lord is our help and our shield.

May your love be upon us, O Lord,

  as we place all our hope in you.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

 

Second Reading – 2 Timothy 1:8-10 ©

God Calls and Enlightens Us

With me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy – not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace. This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News.

 

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 17:5

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

From the bright cloud the Father’s voice was heard:

‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

 

The Gospel According to Matthew – 17:1 - 9 ©

His Face Shone Like the Sun

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.

As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’

 

Second Sunday of Lent (Year A)