2nd sunday of Lent

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

God’s pact with Abram

Then Yahweh brought him outside and said to him “Look at the sky and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that. Abraham believed Yahweh who, because of this, held him to be an upright man. And he said “I am Yahweh who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as this possession.”
Then Abram asked, “My Lord, how am I to know that it shall be mine? “Yahweh replied “Bring me a three year old Heifer, a three year old goat, a three year old ram, a turtle dove and a young pigeon”. Abram brought all these animals, cut them in two and laid each half facing its other half, but he did not cut the birds in half. The birds of prey came down upon them, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, deep sleep came over Abram and a dreadful darkness took hold of him.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between halves of the victims. On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this country from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.


Philippians 3:17 4:1

Unite in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and look at those who walk in our way of life. For many lives as enemies of the cross of Christ, I have said it to you many times, and now I repeat it with tears: they are heading for ruin; their belly is their God and they feel proud of what should be their shame. They only think of earthly things. For us our citizenship is in heaven, from where we wait the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making like his own body, radiant in glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, you my glory and crown, be steadfast in the Lord.


Luke 9:28-36

The transfiguration

About eight days, after Jesus had said all this, he took Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing become dazzling white. Two men were talking to Jesus: Moses and Elijah. They had just appeared in heavenly glory and were telling him about his departure that had to take place in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had fallen asleep, but they awoke suddenly and saw Jesus ‘Glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said to him “Master how good it is for us to be here for we can make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one foe Elijah. “For Peter did not know what to say. And no sooner had he spoken than a cloud appeared and covered them; and the disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud. “This is my son, my Chosen one, listen to him.” And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was there alone.
The disciples kept this to themselves at the time, telling no one of anything they had seen.



Questions for reflection:

1. Who do you go to when you feel burdened?
2. How optimistic are you when an approaching storm is coming in your life?


Jesus was foretold of his death before it came. He was visited by the Moses and Elijah, maybe to give moral support considering that he still has his human weakness. In spite of the anxiety, he offered everything to his father and let His will be done.
A lot of times in our life, we undergo problems and obstacles. Sometimes we almost felt so tired that we wonder if these hardships are necessary. We ask ourselves if we really have to experience all the pains and sufferings. Like a charcoal which underwent a lot of pressure for a long time to be a diamond, great people are product of hardships, pain and sufferings. Everything that happens in our life has a purpose. It may not be discernible at present but afterwards we’ll find out why.

WHO IS OUR TRUE MASTER?

1st Sunday of Lent
First Reading (Deuteronomy 26:4-10)

The Israelite proclaims his Faith

Then the priest shall take the large basket from your hands and place it before the altar of Yahweh your God, and you shall say these words before Yahweh,” My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt to find refuge there, while still few in number; but in that country, he became a great and powerful nation. The Egyptians maltreated us, oppressed us and subjected us to harsh slavery. So we called Yahweh, the God of our fathers, and Yahweh listened to us. He saw our humiliation, our hand and our labor and the oppression to which we were subjected. He brought us out of Egypt with a firm hand, manifesting his power with signs and awesome wonders. And he bought us here with milk and honey. So now I bring and offer the first fruits of the land which you, Yahweh have given me.”


Second Reading (Romans 10: 8-13)

True righteousness coming from faith also says: The word of God is near you, on your lips and your hearts. This is the message we preach and this is faith. You are saved if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart you believe that God raised him from the dead. By believing from the Heart, you obtain true righteousness: by confessing the faith with your lips you are saved. For scripture says: no one who believes in him will be ashamed. Here there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; all have the same Lord, who is very generous with whoever calls on him. Truly, all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.


Gospel Reading (Luke 4: 1-13)

Jesus was now full of spirit. As he returned from Jordan, the spirit led him into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. He did not eat anything during that time, and in the end he was hungry. The devil then said to him” I f you are the son of God, tell this stone to turn into bread”. But Jesus answered, “Scripture says: People cannot live on bread alone.”
Then the devil took him up to a high place and showed him in a flash all the nations of the world. And he said to Jesus, “I can give you power over all the nations and their wealth will be yours, for power and wealth have been delivered to me and I give them to whom I wish. All this will be yours provided that you worship me. But Jesus replied, “Scripture says: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.”
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest wall of the temple and he said. “”If you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: God will order his angels to take care of you and again: They will hold you and their hands, lest you hurt your foot on the stones.”But Jesus replied, “It is written: You shall not challenge the Lord your God.”
When the devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus he left him, to return another time.

Questions for reflection:

1. Who am I serving?
2. Which part of my life do I prioritize?
3. Who are the people who have influenced me?
4. Do I weigh other people? How do I weigh other people?

Jesus tells us that the right way is always not the easiest road to travel. While the other way offers all the comfort and luxury and the world. God gave us the free will to choose the road we want to go. A lot of times we use the wrong road to salvation but we have a God who always gives second chances every time we got astray. It is up to us to accept the opportunity of second chances that God is offering to us or to continue to refuse Him and pursue a way of sinful life.