Second Sunday of Lent Year A 2023

Title

God asks for all our security

Outline

I am constantly hearing about the need for security

Buy this final affairs policy so that you can rest knowing that your total funeral package is secure

Purchase this medical insurance so that you can know that if you get ill you will receive great care and need not fear bankruptcy

Make this investment and you will be secure

And then, for us, there is the all in one retirement community with three levels of care, the first more a retirement community with fine meals and housecleaning, then the care one would need if ambulatory, and finally full nursing care

That all assumes that one has no family that will care for one as one ages, as is often the case now

All of that, of course, is biblical nonsense - while the church may provide care at many stages of life, our security is in Christ, even in suffering with Christ, as St Dominic knew

Abraham is the primal example of such trust

He is told to leave land, relatives, and father’s house with the promise of great blessings - he knows what he is leaving well, but the blessings are unseen - he must trust God

And Abraham goes, not knowing where he is going, not considering his significant age (my age) and childlessness - he just goes and accepts the adventure God has for him, trusting in God’s promise.

Paul exhorts Timothy to similar risk

“Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” You don’t get that strength until you need it.

There are wonderful promises, “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began.” Yet their full realization is in the future. And in the example of Christ we learn that he “destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” He destroyed death by dying and we will only experience immortality when we follow him through death too.

Finally, there is Jesus

He takes his three witnesses needed for legal testimony to a mountain and there they experience Jesus’ honor status visibly and through Moses and Elijah conversing with him.

Woah, says Peter, we are here as servants, to be sure, but that is good - let us stay here and establish an eschatological HQ.

No, says God, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” And the experience terrified Peter’s ideas out of them.

So what did Jesus say that they must listen to? First, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And then, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” You are witnesses, but the time is not yet - the “Son of Man” must be raised from and dead, and that means that he must die first. There is a cross before the mountaintop comes to fruition.

Sisters, you know that that is what life in God is like

St Dominic left everything and went where God sent him, not even having a cell to sleep in, and only one worn habit. He endured many hardships and sent his followers into other hardships. But, besides his present residence with Jesus, God has fulfilled his promises for there are vast numbers of converts there as well.

And in one way or another you have been called to leave security behind and walk in a way you did not know. Besides the struggles of community life, which Jesus’ disciples also faced, you face school administrations that are not always fully sanctified and all wise, students that are not yet angelic nor do they hang on your every word, and sometimes illness and other trials and eventually old age and death. Your security is God and your future is whatever he chooses it to be.

But in this way we receive the blessing of Abraham, the fellowship of Timothy, and especially the leadership of Jesus as we get to walk among the company of his disciples. He is our security, he is our future, he is the one to whom we listen, and, beyond that cross that looms before us is the shining light of his resurrection.

Reading

Catholic Daily Readings 3-5-2023: Second Sunday of Lent

FIRST READING

Genesis 12:1–4a

1 The LORD said to Abram: Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will find blessing in you.

4 Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Catholic Daily Readings 3-5-2023: Second Sunday of Lent

RESPONSE

Psalm 33:22

22 May your mercy, LORD, be upon us;

as we put our hope in you.

PSALM

Psalm 33:4–5, 18–20, 22

4 For the LORD’s word is upright;

all his works are trustworthy.

5 He loves justice and right.

The earth is full of the mercy of the LORD.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him,

upon those who count on his mercy,

19 To deliver their soul from death,

and to keep them alive through famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD,

he is our help and shield.

22 May your mercy, LORD, be upon us;

as we put our hope in you.

Catholic Daily Readings 3-5-2023: Second Sunday of Lent

SECOND READING

2 Timothy 1:8b–10

8 So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

9 He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Catholic Daily Readings 3-5-2023: Second Sunday of Lent

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 17:5

5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

GOSPEL

Matthew 17:1–9

1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2  And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” 8 And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 3-5-2023: Second Sunday of Lent

SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023 | LENT

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Genesis 12:1–4a

Response Psalm 33:22

Psalm Psalm 33:4–5, 18–20, 22

Second Reading 2 Timothy 1:8b–10

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 17:5

Gospel Matthew 17:1–9

VIOLET