HOMILY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A
Genesis 12:1-4/ Psalm 33/ 2Timothy 1:8-10 / Matthew 17:1-9
AGORSOR Aaron Agbeshie
THEME: When God calls, He equips.
It is said that every calling is great when greatly pursued. Today’s Liturgy reminds us of our own calling. God called each one of us according to his plan and purpose. This calling demands of us faithfulness and dedication. We are assured of God’s grace to accomplish His will for us.
The call of Abraham in the first reading of today reminds us of our own calling; our calling as pilgrims. We are called to our eternal home which demands of us total faith in God’s providence. God said to Abraham “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Abraham did not even question God but trusted in God. He acted swiftly and with urgency.
The Lord assured Abraham “I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). The power of God is even able to make us fruitful when nature gives up on us. As old as Abraham was, he had a desire for novelty. Not only did God promised to make Abraham fruitful, but that he will be a blessing to his generation. We are the fruits of that blessing.
God also assured Abraham of his protection against his enemies. “I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).
We do not live to ourselves and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:7-8). The same is true when God calls us. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds Timothy that God has called him according to His own grace and purpose; a purpose which is rooted in the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Paul tells him “ Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join me in suffering for the Gospel, relying on the power of God who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace” (2Timothy 1:8-9a).
We are reminded that our calling entails suffering for the sake of Christ. Therefore, if we think that our calling is to satisfy our whims and caprices, then are priorities are misplaced. The grace to endure our suffering has been given to us by Christ before the foundations of the world (2Timothy 1:9b-10).
When God calls us, He affirms our calling. The Gospel reading affirms the calling of Jesus in two ways namely the appearing of Moses and Elijah who represent the Law and the Prophets respectively and the voice of God Himself which bears witness to Jesus’ mission.
The Transfiguration took place after Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah, Son of the living God at Caesarea Philippi and Jesus’s subsequent announcement of his suffering, and death. Jesus wanted his disciples to catch a glimpse of the glory that awaits him after his suffering; a glory that is not worth comparing to the present suffering he is yet to undergo (cf Romans 8:18).
I remember telling you during the homily for the First Sunday of Lent that after Jesus was tempted’ We are told that the devil left him. But we know that Satan never left Jesus alone. He used Peter to urge Jesus to abandon the cross (Matthew 16:21-23). This means that one victory never guarantees freedom from further temptations. If anything, each victory we experience only makes Satan try the harder. But our hope is that ‘Temptations lose their power when Christ is near’ (Catholic Hymn 356).
In today’s episode, Satan wanted to use Peter again but Jesus triumphed. “Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4). Peter once again wanted Jesus to escape the suffering that awaits him. Jesus’ refusal reminds every Christian that in the Cross of Christ lies our victory. We must all pass through Gethsemane before walking in the glory of Christ.
Peter attempted to derail the plan of God, but “While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them and from the cloud a voice said “This is my beloved Son, with him I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). The voice of God was to affirm why Jesus must suffer. The disciples must listen to Jesus and allow the will of God to be done.
Therefore, the Transfiguration was God’s way of teaching Peter and his brothers that Jesus is glorified when we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. The world’s philosophy is “Save yourself!”But the Christian’s philosophy is “Yield yourself to God!” As he stood there in glory, Jesus proved to the three disciples and to us that surrender always leads to glory. First the suffering, then the glory; first, the cross, then the crown.
In a nutshell, on a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, an emblem of suffering and shame. In the cross of Christ lies our victory. Jesus died and paid the price. Therefore, we have been redeemed- purchased and set free. Just as God called Abraham, He is still calling people today and affirming their call. So you see, when God calls you, there are multitudes of witnesses affirming your call. Remember that you are not alone.