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Dear Parishioners,
The Second Sunday of Lent's readings speak to us about how our faith allows the glory of God to shine through our lives. Abrahams faith allows God to make him a great nation, with descendants as numerous as the sand on the shore of the sea.
The first reading is the Testing of Abraham whose faith is unwavering. It is good to note that in the natural religions of the time human sacrifices were common. The Angel of the Lord says “Do not lay your hand on the boy." This testing of Abraham also communicated the ultimate message that God provides the expiation or sacrifice for our sins. Today's passage leaves out the conversation between Abraham and Isaac on the way up the mountain. Isaac asks his father, where is the lamb of sacrifice, and Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” This is the prefigurement of God sending his only son as an offering for us.
The Gospel is the Transfiguration where the glory of God shines through the humanity of Jesus. Peter, James, and John are able to see not only his humanity but also the divinity of Jesus for the first time. This is to strengthen them for the sacrifice of our Lord that is about to happen.
As St. Paul said. "If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? "
Yes, God will give us everything we need. He gives us the Eucharist as food for the journey of life.
The season of Lent is when we listen to the voice of God “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Let us listen to Jesus and make him present in the world by following his commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you." Like Abraham, Peter, James, John, and Paul we can allow the glory of God to shine through us and transform the world in which we live. How? One person, one moment, one action, one word, one prayer at a time.
Let us continue to pray for each other and with each other as we share the message of God's Divine Mercy during the Season of Lent.
I remember you and your families in my Masses.
May God bless you.
Fr. Gerard Monaghan