SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A
THEME: “LENT AS A JOURNEY TO TRANSFIGURATION”
((Readings: 1st: Gen 12:1-4; Ps: 32; 2nd: 2Tim 1:8-10; Gos: Mt 17:1-9))
Today being the second Sunday of Lent, our Holy mother church is teaching us that Lent is a period of detachment from the past, renewal, and transformation. Jesus took some of his disciples to the mountain to pray, and while praying behold He was transfigured; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and they were talking with Him. It was a wonderful experience and the disciple wanted to build tents to make their dwelling in the presence of God. Lent is a period to experience transfiguration, transformation, change, and renewal of our life. We will experience transfiguration only if we are faithful in our prayer, and fasting.
Once, a woman fell into a deep coma for some hours. Waking up, she was very sad and she said to her children: “You should have allowed me to remain there.” Her children told her that they loved her so much, and still needed her. She was still describing the beauty and splendor of the city she saw herself in when her little daughter cried out: “Mummy, you were already in heaven. Please, let us go back there right now!” Like the apostles, this woman had a glimpse of the glory and splendor of the Eternal City. So, she did not want to return to this world.
In order for transfiguration to take place in our lives during this lent, we should be ready to do the following:
- OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
Last Sunday, of his disobedience to God, Adam was cursed. In the first reading, God commands Abraham to leave his country, family, pagan practices, and his property for an unknown land. Abram is tested with obedience to the will of God. By his Obedience to the unknown God, Abram who was pagan, old, and childless is promised blessings and protection. “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous; but with one condition. “Leave your country, your family, and your father´s house”. Similarly, Saul obediently embraced the mission given by Christ to preach the Good News despite the hardship attached to it. Ultimately, Jesus obediently carried the cross to Calvary to pay our disobedience’s debt.
Abraham’s obedience to God brought blessing and transformation to his life. His name was changed to Abraham giving him another chance to rewrite his new history. Saul was now called Paul opening a new chapter in his life. Obedience to the will and commands of God attracts blessings in our life. God wants to bless you, and make you great and famous. God wants to change your name and history but you need to become obedient to his will. Let us use this period to repent from our disobedience.
- DETACHMENT FROM PAST
In order to walk in the present and future in your life you have to detach yourself from the past. You cannot embrace something new when you are still attached to the past and the old. Some of us cannot enjoy the present moment because we are too attached to past failures, pains, heartbreaks, and unforgiveness. Abam had to detach himself from his property (Materialism), old friends and family members, and pagan practices and embraced and walked to the unknown blessed future. Sometimes God wants us to detach ourselves from our current comfort zones and embrace the cross for some moments in order to experience resurrection. During this lent, God has a good plan to transform you like Abraham but on a condition that you must depart from your past. God is asking you today to detach yourself from sinful practices, bad company, materialism, and go forth with Him into a period of repentance, renewal of life, and transformation.
- READINESS TO WALK THE WAY OF THE CROSS
St. Paul explains that the process of Lenten transfiguration is a difficult process. We must prepare to encounter hardships along the way but we should depend on the grace of God. “Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.” (2 Tim 1:8) Detachment from past addictions, heartbreaks, and pains has never been easy for many people and is sometimes a painful process. It is also compared to following Jesus on the way to Calvary. The disciples wanted to build tents on the comforts of the mountain but Jesus did not allow them because that was a revelation of what their future will be like if they are faithful on their journey to calvary. Jesus took some disciples to the mountain to be strengthened by God through prayer. May this Eucharistic celebration on the Holy Mountain be a source of Grace and strength during moments of challenges.
In a nutshell, we are in a period of renewal and transformation of our life. God wants to bless you like Abraham, change your name and history, make you prosperous and great, and remove shame and sin from your life but with few conditions: You must henceforth become obedient to his will, detach yourself from the dark past, and rely on his grace like Paul on this challenging journey.
In each Holy Mass, our offering of bread and wine becomes transformed into the body and blood of Jesus. Hence, just as the transfiguration strengthened the apostles in their time of trial, each Holy Mass should be our source of heavenly strength against our own temptations, and a source of renewal of our lives during Lent. In addition, communion with Jesus should be a source of the daily transfiguration of both our minds and hearts.
Prayer: Thy will be done. Amen!
Spiritual readings for the week: (Read Ps 27 and 1Kgs 19)
BE BLESSED!! ((Contact our vocation office on +255629269140 or +254792299140))
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the word and the spirit of Grace; and may the heart of Jesus live in the heart of all the people. Amen” SVD Prayer
JAMBO KENTAN 
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