2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A
Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 (22)
2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Matthew 17:1-9
March 8, 2020
We hear today the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration. He took Peter, James, and John “and led them up a high mountain.” On the mountain they saw Jesus transfigured, his facing shining, and his clothes “became white as light.” Moses, symbolizing the law, and Elijah, symbolizing the prophets appeared there. To all of this Peter said, “Lord, it is good that we are here.”
Yes, it is good that they were there but why did Jesus take them with him this time when He went alone other times?
Jesus knew his passion was coming. He knew they would need assurances of who He is. So, He took them with him to see the transfiguration to give them assurance, to give them “the strength that comes from God.”
We too will, as Paul says to Timothy, bear our “share of hardships for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.”
We are called to place our trust in God, to work for, as we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer, thy kingdom come, thy will be done.
The story of the Transfiguration assures us of who Jesus is so we can trust him. We are given an example of that trust in Abram, who will become Abraham, in the first reading. God said to Abram, “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk.. to a land that I will show you.” Abram doesn’t know where the land is and he doesn’t ask. He simply trusted and “went as the LORD directed him.”
We are all called to work for the building up of the Kingdom of God. We do this through giving of our time, talent, and treasure. Last week, we heard about our increased offertory program, “Be the Gift That Makes a Difference.” Today, we hear from one of our parishioners about that. Ask yourself what you can do to help build up the Kingdom of God.
My church is composed of people like me.
I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will make generous gifts to many causes,
If I am a generous giver.
It will bring other people
into its worship and fellowship,
f I invite and bring them.
It will be a church of loyalty and love,
of fearlessness and faith,
and a church with a noble spirit,
if I, who make it what it is,
am filled with these same things.
Therefore, with the help of God,
I shall dedicate myself to the task of being
all the things I want my church to be.