Year C

2ND SUNDAY
OF LENT

► Readings, Reflections & Prayers

Scripture readings: Association for Catholic Priests
– www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie
Reflections and Prayers by Fr Jack Finnegan SDB

1st Reading – Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.

Reflection

Our reading from Acts shows us the power of Christ working in the development of the early faith community: and women are specifically mentioned. It reminds us that it is God who adds new members to the Church. We are reminded that we are members of the community of the redeemed, people whose lives have been lovingly embraced and transformed by divine mercy. We are reminded that the early faith community lived in increasingly hostile times which they faced in the light of the resurrection. They gathered for prayer. They cared for those in need. They did not forget the Jewish origins of their faith in Jesus. These are the things that those who are alive in Christ do. How can we embrace divine mercy, how can we proclaim Jesus is Lord if we do not pray and reach out to those in need? How can we change the world if we are not alive in Christ?

Prayer

Abba Father, draw new members to your Church today. Touch people everywhere with your amazing love and mercy! Let streams of mercy seize the world! Inspire Christians to be genuine witnesses to your love for all people everywhere. Help us when we stumble. Catch us when we fall. Shelter us when the storms of opposition blow. Guide our steps in faith. Touch all of us with the light of the resurrection! Guide our steps in faith. Make us caring people. Make us a people of true prayer. Make us alive in Christ, true channels of mercy flowing into the whole world. As we gather in your glorious Name hear our songs of praise today! Make your beauty visible in our lives! In Jesus’ Name. Amen. Alleluia!

Psalm 118:1-4, 22-27

Reflection

Psalm 118, a psalm of thanksgiving, has been called the Easter Psalm because of its links to Temple festival and celebration (see verse 27). More to the point for Divine Mercy Sunday, the poet has personally experienced God’s saving grace. That is how he is able to repeatedly assure us that God’s loving mercy endures forever. The line becomes his poem’s refrain. We are also reminded that the stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. And then we sing, This is the LORD’s doing! This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! And our response to Divine Mercy? Songs of praise, songs of blessing on God and the Risen Christ. Songs of gratitude for mercy. Songs full of the fire of the Holy Spirit! Can we declare with the poet: the Lord is for me; I am not afraid?

Prayer

LORD, Adonai, Teruwah! Alleluia! Your love endures forever! Your loving mercy knows no end! It lasts forever! The stone rejected is the cornerstone! The rejected Crucified One is the Saviour! How awesome your plan! How glorious your love! We bless you! We praise you! We glorify your Name! You make your light shine on us and shower us with loving grace! And so we lift up our hands in praise and rejoice in festal celebration in your House today! How wonderful your salvation! How wonderful your love! Hear our shouts of joy! Hear our glad songs of thanks! Loving God, may all living beings delight in you forever! May you be praised forever and ever! May your praise fill the cosmos! Now and forever. Amen. Alleluia!

2nd Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Reflection

Set in Western Turkey, John’s vision takes place in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. It occurs at a time when Christians were hated in the Roman Empire. Against that background we can all the better understand the amazing way Jesus is depicted in today’s reading. John’s vision of the Glorified One underlines the awesome wonder of Christ in heaven. Look at the picture of the seven churches – the seven lampstands. Meditate on the glorious Jesus standing in their midst dressed like the great High Priest. Notice his glowing feet and the transforming invitation they offer us to repent and share his life-changing holiness. Notice the stars and the keys and the sword. The stars depict the angels of the seven churches while the keys are a symbol of Christ’s authority. The sword tells us that Christ protects his people. Listen to John: When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!” Fall at his feet! Be open! Let mercy flow!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, your mercy is without end! One Sabbath our brother John was drawn into the Spirit. He saw you dressed like a High Priest standing among seven golden lampstands holding seven stars in your hands. Your voice was like a trumpet to his ears, or whispering water, singing a message to the seven Churches of his day. Like him we fall prostrate before you. Place your hand on us too, today. Remind us that you are the First and the Last. You are the Living One, the Risen Glorified One, the Merciful Holder of the Keys! Your face is radiant with the light of God’s loving mercy! Embrace us in your loving mercy today and bless us as we honour your Name. Now and forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28-36

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came an overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

Reflection

The story of Doubting Thomas is always read on the second Sunday of Easter. This is the day (the first day of the week) Jesus appeared again to the apostles and Thomas. Thomas was absent the first time when Jesus breathed his gift of peace upon them and stubbornly refused to believe their testimony. He wants to see and touch Jesus for himself! He wants to touch Jesus’ wounded body before he believes! The story focuses our attention on what happens when Thomas’s desire is answered! He asked for the impossible and was granted it! He abandons his doubt and proclaims Jesus as his Lord and God! The same invitation is offered to us today: Do not be faithless but believing. How will we respond? Just as Jesus recognised Thomas in all his doubt and need, he recognises us as we too stand in need of his understanding and mercy. Will we recognise Jesus just as he recognises us? Will we, like Thomas, open ourselves to the gifts of the Risen Lord—peace, joy, the Spirit and forgiveness? Will we remember that the Risen One is the Crucified One? Will we remember that the Risen One is real? Are we open to becoming a new creation in the Risen Lord?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, sometimes it seems as if we walk in a fog, touched by doubts, troubled by confusing thoughts and feelings that arise unbidden. On such days the way seems unclear and our faith seems weak indeed. We experience Thomas moments, moments when we need the evidence of our own eyes, our own hands. You met Thomas’s desire and brought him home to faith. Meet us in similar ways. Help us when we walk in the fog. Help those who are lost in the mist. Breathe your peace into our hearts and minds. Touch us with the spirit of truth. Warm us with the soul of wisdom. Wrap us in your merciful love. Send your Spirit to us again. Believing, may we know that you are in truth the Messiah! May we sing of the fullness of life in your name! You are my Lord and my God! May we lift high your glorious name today! You are God’s living mercy in the cosmos. Now and forever. Amen. Alleluia!

► Lectio Divina

Today’s gospel passage reports on an outstanding success in the life of Jesus. On his way up to Jerusalem, as he journeyed towards his death on the cross, Jesus withdrew for a moment of prayer and invited three of his disciples to join him in prayer and rest. They were men who thought they knew him well. They had been with him a long time, and had heard many things from him. Now they were to see him differently – he was transformed, divine. They saw him in the company of two men of God, conversing with him about his imminent death in Jerusalem. The disciples, who had been thinking only of passing some time in prayer with their Master, listened in astonishment to this conversation. The poor men were barely able to stay awake, and when they began to speak again, they did not know what they were saying. They would have liked to interrupt Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and remain forever on that mountain, even if it meant creating a space for these new companions of Jesus and allowing them to share their privilege. Everything seemed wonderful! They were happy and lacked nothing, even though there was nothing on that lonely mountain-top.

Read: understand what the text is saying, focussing on how it says it

In complete contrast to the preceding episode, in which Jesus reacted to Peter’s first confession of faith (Lk 9, 18-21) by foretelling his imminent passion and the price that his followers would have to pay (Mk 9,22-27), the evangelist now records an unusual incident, the transfiguration of Jesus. It is the first and only manifestation of his glory. Without great emphasis, it lets us see the profound mystery of the personal adventure of Jesus. His via crucis is nothing other than his path to glory. The cross is not the final stage; it is his only way to God (cf Lk 2, 9: 24, 26).

Luke’s account of the transfiguration follows that of Mark closely (Mk 9, 2-8), but it has its own particular slant. Jesus chooses those who will be his companions at prayer, and he climbs the mountain with them. His conversation with God, in the presence of witnesses, is the reason that brings Jesus to the loneliness of the mountain. Jesus changes in face and in appearance while he prays. His transfiguration is preceded by a conversation with God.  God can introduce him as his only Son, because he, the Son, has come into the presence of his Father. Speaking to God makes it easier for Jesus to speak to men about God. The presence of Moses and Elijah serves only to confirm the testimony that Jesus had given eight days earlier, since they spoke among themselves about his imminent death, his exodus. What the disciples saw and heard was stupendous, but it was nothing to the drama that was still to come.

Peter managed to mutter how good it was, just as the two glorious companions of Jesus were disappearing.  He did not know what he was saying, but he felt good until the cloud surrounded them and he heard a voice, the same voice they had heard when Jesus was being baptized (Lk 3, 22).  As the vision was dimmed and they were awakened by the sound of the voice, they felt the fear that comes from the immediate presence of God.  They cannot hide the fact that God – by his Word – introduces Jesus to them as his beloved Son and orders them to listen to him. The whole experience, which began as prayer, ends in a silence imposed by God who presents himself as the Father who loves Jesus. When the favoured disciples know that they must obey this man who is journeying towards his death, they have nothing to say. God’s decisions are accepted in silence.

Meditate: apply what the text says to life

On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus knows that he is going towards a cruel death.  At one point on the journey, God allows himself to be heard in order to reveal the true identity of Jesus to some chosen disciples. They had gone with Jesus to pray with him, but they witnessed a miracle, even though they were half-asleep, disoriented and afraid. They were not prepared for so great a discovery. As the miracle was happening, they could only mutter, when they should have stayed silent. Later, when they knew who Jesus was, they were unable to speak. These close disciples of Jesus cut a sorry figure! Indeed, God’s manifestation does not always find even the best disciples ready and prepared. Nevertheless, God continues to speak about Jesus – He is my Son. And he continues to impose obedience ­– Listen to him! We should not forget that the disciples who received this revelation about Jesus were the ones who were accompanying him – albeit unwillingly and unknowingly – on the way of the cross. If they had not been his companions on the way of the cross, they would not have seen Jesus in his glory as Son of God. The disciples who accepted Jesus’ invitation to pray with him, found themselves in the presence of God. This is significant. It is true that a cloud obscured their joy, but they were able to hear the voice of God who revealed to them that the one they thought was only their teacher of prayer was indeed the beloved Son of God. First, they joined Jesus in prayer and silence. Then they heard God and saw their Lord in glory. Seeing Moses and Elijah with Jesus made them enthusiastic. Hearing the voice of God frightened them into silence.

It was the voice of God that revealed to them the identity of Jesus.  It is the Father who must identify his Son. Hearing the Word of God proves to be more decisive than seeing the glory of Jesus. What God says about Jesus reveals more than what they can see for themselves. Accepting what he commands us to do, is more important than feeling good in the presence of Jesus. We must allow God to tell us what Jesus is to be for us. We have to learn to see and love Jesus with the eyes and heart of God. We will not overcome our fears, nor will we be filled with joy, if we do not allow Jesus to be for us what God wants him to be.  He is God’s chosen Son who must be listened to and obeyed, whom we must know in order to love, whose life we must share if we are to follow him closely.

As disciples of Jesus, we can be fascinated by him, and enthusiastic about him, and yet not be led to live better Christian lives. If our relationship with Jesus is such that we just want to feel good being with him, if we follow him just to find a happiness that we cannot achieve on our own, and spend time in prayer with him only because we want to see miracles, then we will never really meet him and God will not reveal him to us. We should not lay so much emphasis on the benefits we draw from following Jesus. Feeling good is not the best reward of our life of prayer, nor is the fact that we feel better when we are with Jesus than we do on our own. This is not the main reason for our prayer.  We should allow God to tell us what Jesus is to be for us. Only then will we have the Son of God as our companion and teacher. We need to take Jesus more seriously, walk with him wherever he wants to lead us, go with him when he wants to pray, obey him once and for all, and then he will become for us the God who teaches us and walks with us on our journey.

Perhaps some of us, listening to this gospel passage, have asked ourselves – and with good reason – why is Jesus not transfigured now. Why do we not see Jesus in glory and find ourselves transformed by him, as those three disciples were?  Is there anyone among us who does not feel a certain envy of those fortunate disciples who saw Jesus in his divine glory, and were so close to him that they suddenly felt it was good to be there? We should not forget that the disciples who were so enthusiastic for Jesus on seeing him transfigured and so different from the Jesus they had seen every day, were the ones who had accepted the invitation to go and pray alone with him. Finding time to pray together, alone with him on the mountain and alone with God, led them to discover in Jesus something that they had not yet seen in him. When they saw him praying, despite their feeling sleepy and confused, they saw that he was really Jesus, and they saw who he wanted to be for them. When they prayed with him, they were happy to be with him, even though they knew they could not share with others the company of Jesus and the conversation they had with him.

When they prayed with him, they heard the voice of God himself who introduced Jesus to them as his beloved Son. Instead of being envious of the three disciples who went up the mountain to pray alone with Jesus, and instead of getting annoyed with Jesus because he does not let us see how wonderful he is, and only rarely lets us feel good in his company, we ought to ask ourselves what reasons has he for not being transfigured in our presence. Maybe we would know the reasons if we knew where we are, what is it that occupies our minds and our bodies, day and night, while we are at prayer with him. What is it that preoccupies us, when his main preoccupation is to pray with us?  Does he find us wrapped up in our own dreams and lost in our illusions? We would know why we do not see Jesus in glory, if we thought about where we are when we could be feeling good in his presence, and how far we sometimes go from him when we are seeking happiness.

Let us try to see where we were when we should have been with God, and what we were doing when we should have been giving time and attention to this God who wants to speak to us about his beloved Son. Then we will know why Jesus has not become for us our wonderful teacher and the Son of God in glory.

It is not surprising that those who do not see anything extraordinary in Jesus are not enthusiastic about being with him and do not wish to stay with him to the end. Anyone who has not had, in the course of his life, a glimpse of this wonderful, magnificent, divine Jesus will not know what it means to get excited about him and to risk everything for him. A Christian life without excitement and risk is not worthy of him. Disciples who have never felt good being with him, who have never been aware of his presence with them as they prayed, who have not heard the voice of God while they were sharing a time of prayer with Jesus, are not worthy of him. If we never get enthusiastic about our Master, why should we continue to follow him? Can a Lord who is not really divine demand such radical obedience of us? The root of our frustration in following Christ is not that he no longer fascinates his followers. Rather it is that we do not always stay with him, in the dark moments and in the moments of glory. We continue to be concerned with our own affairs and our own world, instead of being truly preoccupied with his world and his affairs. Let us remain close to him so that, whenever he chooses, he can show us who he really is. It will be worth the effort and the time of waiting.