2nd Sunday of Lent
05th March 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a
In those days: The Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22 (R. 22)
R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Beloved: Share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Gospel : Matthew 17:1-9
At that time: Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Configured and Transfigured!
Indicative: The scene of the transfiguration of the Lord is a revelation and re-confirmation of the original identity of Jesus and a reminder and indicator of our own future glory{alertSuccess}
1. The Lord’s transfiguration in the first place is a call for confirming our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. We must believe that he incarnated himself and put on our human body and nature. That does not mean that he is merely human. He is the Son of God and has come to us on a mission of love for our salvation
2. Transfiguration is a call to reset our minds to understand and accept God’s will and God’s ways. God’s ways are not our ways. God wants to save us, not the way the world thinks and does. For the world, defeating the enemy and gaining victory is usually a big, pompous, and overturning way with a display of power and might
3. But God’s way is a totally contrasting way. It is a way of love, humility, mercy, and sacrifice. It is the way of the Cross. It is not through power and destruction but through humility and compassion. It is through inner power and renewal. It is not through domination but through submission and surrender
4. The Lord wants us to understand this mystery of salvation through suffering. This shall not distress us but make us prepared. God suffers, not because He is powerless and helpless. It is because He wants to atone for our sins so that our salvation becomes just and justified
5. The episode of the Lord’s transfiguration points to our whole journey of faith as God’s children and followers of Christ. It comprises a constant movement from disfiguration through configuration to transfiguration
6. Accordingly, in the first place, we must be sincerely aware of the manifold ways in which sin disfigures our divine image. With this awareness, we must be led to repentance. Then turn to Jesus and configure ourselves to him. Be conformed to him. Imitate and emulate him. Become more and more like him
Imperative: Disfiguration can be countered effectively only through a steady configuration to the Lord. This transfigures us here and now and later, in eternal glory{alertSuccess}