Homily[3] 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 Citizenship is In
Heaven
These words of Saint
Paul to the Church in Philippi capture well the essence of what we celebrate
today: that all of us, throughout history, are on a journey like the Israelites
(Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers 1–10). We are immigrants, migrating to our
heavenly Father. As believers, and children of the covenant, where we are now
is not our final home. Heaven is our
final home. That “promised land” promised by the God of “our fathers,” through
our ancestors! It takes courage, patience, courage, endurance, perseverance and
attentiveness to the voice of God to get there! It is costly. I mean the "cost of discipleship" to get there!
In today’s first
reading, God unconditionally establishes a covenant, a loving relationship with
Abraham, our ancestor. Abraham’s descendants; Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, David,
the prophets, Christ, Paul, renewed in us, in the Church, in our communities,
and families today, will be as plentiful as the stars in the sky and as the
sand of the sea shore. Abraham and his descendant shall be given that land for
a possession (Gen 15). Abraham believes and puts his faith in God. He is accredited
as a just man, as a righteousness man. Abraham, by believing, and putting his
faith in God, teaches us how to be believing people, a compassionate, church, a
believing, family and community. Abraham’s response to God reminds us that our
work and Lenten disciplines here on earth will never be in vain. Those spiritual
and corporal works of mercy will never be in vain. Abraham teaches us to be
docile, faithful, righteous, open to change, renewal, confession, acceptance of
the will of God, and the teachings of the Church; conversion and transformation
from our “UR of Chaldeans” to the “Promised Land.”
On Mount Tabor, in the
transfiguration episode of today’s Gospel Jesus' face changes in appearance,
during prayer. His cloth becomes dazzling white to the amazement of Peter, James
and John, his disciples 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. Peter wishes to remain on this peaceful, glorious, beautiful earthly
mountain of Tabor. But, truly their citizenship were beyond the earthly mount
Tabor, Christ speaks to them about his journeys to Jerusalem! Heavenly
citizenship can only be accomplished through the Cross and good works we do!
Today we encounter our
daily crosses in different forms; the cost of discipleship in different forms. In acts of charity, forgiveness, suffering, pains and penance; the insult be bear for the sake of Christ.
There are some that have experienced, poverty, terrorism, illnesses, inhumane-deportations, wars and
various forms of institutional or organized, socio-political unjust structure–
as they journey through this life. Some leave in fear! Some in anger! Some in
excess materialism and uneasiness to forgive and to fell forgiven by God of their
past sins. Whatever, our various challenges in life must have been as
Christians- Lent, especially in this Year of Mercy, re-invites us to patience,
trust and willingness to listen to the voice of Christ, who daily speaks and
invites us to his eternal citizenship!
