Homily for
Second Sunday of Lent Year C: Fr.
Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings:
Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 27: 1, 7-9,13-14; Phil 3:17–4:1 and Luke 9:28b-36.
Our Exodus
to Citizenship in the Promised Land
It is
interesting to listen to the American Politicians: Democrats and the Republican
debates immigration. Both parties debate the path of the immigrants to
citizenship. Each party has different views and criteria to become an American
Citizen.
Lent is a
time we contemplate the “exodus” the path or the way that leads every Christian
to heaven, or the path to becoming a citizen of that eternal and heavenly city.
In the
transfiguration episode in today’s gospel Jesus' face changes in appearance,
during prayer, while his cloth becomes dazzling white to the amazement of his
disciples, Peter, James and John who were with him. Moses and Elijah appeared
and spoke with Jesus about the glory of the cross in the language of the
exodus, known to both of them.
In the
exodus God was in charge. Even before then, after the fall of man and woman, he
called Abraham in Genesis 12. And established a covenant, a bond, a sacred
relationship with Abraham, during which God promised him descendants as
numerous as the stars as well as the
Land, place of rest (katapausis, Gen 15:5-12,17-18). Although, the righteous
Abraham put his faith in the Lord, the journey to inherit the Promised Land was
never going to be easy: they would encounter, hostile kings, wars, temptations,
famine which will take them to Egypt.
Moses and Joshua would continue to be God’s viceroys through the exodus, the
departure from Egypt through the wilderness, desert, the sufferings, “the
cross” the thirstiness, hunger, murmuring, rebellion, and other ups and down as
they journeyed towards that Promised Land.
As clearly
stated in the Letter to the Hebrews 4:1-13, that promise remains; that exodus
departure would be completed in the paschal mysteries of Christ, which lent
prepares us for, as cited by Evangelist Luke in today’s gospel, and by Pope Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei. while acknowledging the challenges, the deserts and the difficulties of times we are in( n.7), he summons all of us, pastors, everyone to imitate Christ, by setting out to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life; towards friendship with God(n.2), towards the heavenly kingdom.
St. Paul an Apostle of the Gentiles
experienced the desert himself- beaten, imprisoned, and shipped wrecked and killed.
Paul and exemplary leader knew, and reminds us today that our citizenship is not on earthly desert, as such,
but in peaceful and friendly heaven (Phil 3:17:1). As he would have invited the Philippians, Paul
invites us to stand firm in Christ, in spite of the trials, temptation, and the
wilderness of life that each of us might experience in life.
Prayer, courage, perseverance exemplified in the passion of Christ during Holy Week(his exodus) and the type of faith and firmness displayed by Abraham and Paul are the true paths that will guarantee us that heavenly citizenship.
