Homily
Second Sunday of Lent Year A: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo
·
Gen 12:1-4a; · Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22;
· 2 Tm 1:8b-10
· Matt 17:1-9
Rise Up, Do
Not Be Afraid(Matt 17:7)!
In today’s Gospel of
transfiguration and renewal Matt 17:1-9, Jesus tells his disciples on Mount
Tabor to “rise up and do not be afraid.” This seems to capture the essence of
today’s readings and the spirit of Lenten prayer, alms giving, Lenten fasting
and retreats, since our life’s journeys are characterized by uncertainties, challenges,
hardships, trials, and sometimes humanly unpredictable circumstances. These trials can
show up in our communities in any disguise: Trials of poverty and trials of
abuse of wealth and inordinate desire for pleasure. Trials of lack of comfort and and trials of abuse of comfort,
forgetting God, the poor, the needy and the common good. Trials of impatience and
trials of indifference about the plight of our neighbors. Trials of overreaction
and trials of uneasiness about change, transformation, renewal or fear of the
unknown. We can only accomplish our Christian journeys if we trust and hope in
God, if we put our faith in God; if we are ready like Abraham, Christ's disciples and Paul to rise up, take up
our daily crosses and follow Jesus on his journey to heavenly glory!
In Genesis
12 Abraham, our patriarch is told to embark on a journey to the land promised him by God and
never to be afraid. Trusting in God Abraham did exactly the same. He leaves his
native Mesopotamia, without a GPS to an unknown destination: a land that God
would show him. He is met with all kinds of trials. Sarah is barren for
sometimes. If she is barren how would the promise of many children by God come
to a fulfilment (Gen 11:31; 16ff)? King Pharaoh threatens to the beauty of
Sarah and the veracity of Abraham (Gen 12:10-20). This goes on and on. In these
trying moments, the only thing Abraham has is putting his faith, hope and trust
in God. He keeps going. He journeys on. He is ready for change guided by God. He
is not beaten down by trials and the hardships of his journeys. How do we
handle our daily trials, illnesses, deprivations, hunger, confusions? Do you
throw in the towel or do we keep rising, keep walking, and keep going in faith,
with openness for a renewal.
Going back
to that story of transfiguration- on his journey to the cross Jesus brought his
disciples, Peter, James and John to the mountain of transfiguration, mount
Tabor, where Jesus’s face was transfigured and transformed. Christ’s face shone
like the sun to the disciples. His cloth also became white as a bright light.
Moses the law giver and Elijah the prophet also appeared to them, chatting with
Jesus. So many transformation here. The brightness of the sun and the serenity
of this mountain top gave the disciples such a joy and peace that they would
want to remain there forever, building houses for Moses, Elijah and Jesus.
Paul understood this as well. His missionary journeys, after his conversion and personal transformation,
were not without ups and downs. There were times he was beaten, ship wrecked
and thrown into prisons. He bore it patiently because he knew they were not
earthly bound, but heavenly where God’s glory awaited Paul. The more reason he
specifically says to Timothy, “beloved bear your share of hardship for the
gospel, with the strength that comes from God (2 Tim 1:8-10). Who’s God? The God of God of Abraham (Gen 12), who
commands Jesus’ disciples in today’s gospel to ‘listen to him,” who commands us
to “rise and not to be afraid” Matthew 17:7!
What
are your challenges as you journey through lent: temporary pleasure, abuse of alcohol, drugs, your body, inordinate
taste for power, material possessions; attachment to electronic gadgets, selfishness, indifference attitude and insensitivity
to our neighbor’s sufferings? How do we move beyond these challenges, beyond
the Tabor experience? Or are your challenges and trials in form of hunger, joblessness,
uneasiness about change, experience of injustice, violent, scandal, stress,
betrayals, illnesses and disappointments or difficulty to cope with the pains of
the loss of someone we loved?
Whatever form we may experience
trials and hardship the Jesus of Lent and the Son of the God of Abraham wants us to
rise up and never to be afraid as we journey in faith, hope and love through
life.
Reflection Questions:
1. What are your fears and life
trials and how do you, in the light of today’s bible readings exemplarily handle them in your faith community?
2. How do we manage our blessings
of wealth, comfort, money etc so that they do not alienate us from the Glory of
the Lord?
3. In faith and trust in God, do we
our Christian pilgrimage as earthly or heavenly bound?
