2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C – Homily
2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14 (1a)
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 9:28b-36
March 16, 2025
The Bible is the story of Salvation History. It is the story of hope for it is the story of God’s love for his people. As such, it has numerous stories of encounters people have with God.
God can be encountered in the things He has created. Think of Abram being with God and looking at the stars in the sky. When you look at the stars, God is present. Do you encounter his presence in what you see?
God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Abraham trusted in God’s promise and “put his faith in the Lord.” Do you encounter God in the promises He offers us in the Bible?
Think of the times in the Bible when God manifests his presence like in the “smoking fire pot and a flaming torch” that passed between the pieces of the sacrifice that Abraham made according to God’s instruction.
Then there is the story of Jesus revealing his glory to Peter, James, and John on the mountain. It is full of important imagery like going up the mountain to come closer to God.
Then Moses and Elijah appear in glory. Moses’ presence symbolizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law. Elijah’s presence symbolizes that Jesus fulfills the prophecies of a Messiah. The fact that they it says they “appeared in glory” points me to 1 John 3:2b, “We do know that when it is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” One day in him we will be like Jesus.
The cloud comes symbolizing the presence of God our Father.
At the heart of this passage is Jesus’ Transfiguration. As Jesus prayed, “his face changed in appearance, and his clothing became dazzling white…they saw his glory.” They saw Jesus transfigured. They saw him as we will see him in Heaven, in his glory.
Can you imagine being there?
In response to what he experienced, Peter said, “Master, it is good that we are here.” Indeed it is. He did not fulfill understand but He was moved by this encounter with Jesus who is the Light of the world.
What ways does our Lord give us to encounter him?
There are symbols we have of what He offers us.
One of the greatest symbols of what Jesus does for us is the Crucifix. He willingly lays down his life for us because He loves us (see John 15:13).
There is the Divine Mercy image of Jesus that we have hanging in our link reminding of God’s mercy, his loving care for us. The Divine Mercy devotion, most specifically in the Divine Mercy Chaplet, helps point us to God’s mercy.
We also have the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His heart is one of pure love for us. Our parish has a long history of First Friday Adoration. This is part of the devotion to the Sacred Heart.
Jesus shows himself to us in these devotions. God is present to us in his Divine Word presented to us in the Bible. Do we allow ourselves to see how God reveals himself to us in what we read in the Bible?
Then, there is the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not just a sign of our Lord’s Presence. It looks like bread and wine but our Lord truly becomes present to us in the Eucharist. It is Jesus we receive in the Eucharist as the Bread of life.
And it is Jesus whose presence we sit in when we come to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Again, the Crucifix, the Divine Mercy image, and the Sacred Heart image are all very important symbols of Jesus and what He offers us in mercy and love. They strengthen our faith but it is in the Eucharist that Jesus is truly present with us.
Are you transformed by these encounters?
Are your minds “occupied with earthly things” that may leave you as “enemies of the cross of Christ” or do you live as citizens of Heaven?
Embracing his love, do you allow God to change you from your sinful ways to the ways of his glory?
God wants to free you from your sins. He gives us the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation for us to receive his forgiveness and mercy. You will find in our bulletin our schedule for confessions throughout Lent including our Diocesan Day of Penance. I encourage you to seek God’s mercy for the Lord is your light and your salvation. Allow him to transform you in his Divine Mercy through his Sacred Heart. Then you receive hope in his love.