Sunday Reading Reflections:

February 28, 2010
Second Sunday of Lent



Reading 1 Reflection:

Many of us have had the difficult experience of having to pack up and move on, leaving our homes and friends behind. We can imagine how Abram, later known as Abraham, might have felt when God called him to journey to a new and unfamiliar land. Despite his doubts and questions, Abram "put his faith in the Lord."

He gave up everything, including his pagan gods, and accepted God's promise of countless descendants. The covenant between God and Abraham was sealed in a special ceremony of sacrifice. The smoke and flame in that ceremony represent the presence of God moving between the broken animal halves. This is a sign that neither Abram, who stays with the sacrificial animals, nor God, whose presence is signaled, will break the covenant.

Reading 2 Reflection:

Today's second reading reminds us that as Christians sharing in God's life we are already citizens of heaven. Neither our earthly homes nor our physical bodies are lasting. But one day our bodies will be transformed and become like the glorified body of the risen Jesus. This is the great and final hope of every Christian.

Gospel Reflection:

Wouldn't it be wonderful to see your best friend transformed, or turned into his or her glorified self, right before your eyes? That's the kind of experience Peter, James, and John have in today's gospel. While they are up on a mountain with Jesus, they have a splendid vision of him in his glorified body.

They see him talking with Moses and Elijah, two long-dead figures from the Old Testament. Moses represents the Law, while Elijah represents the prophets. In Jesus, both find the fulfillment of God's plan of salvation.