How Deep Is Your Faith? . . . Second Sunday of Lent
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Second Sunday of Lent - March 5th, 2023 (Click Here for Readings)
Only by faith could Abraham give up all that he had to gain what God had planned for him, especially when he didn’t know what the plan would be.
Could we endure the pain of giving up our possessions, positions and lifestyles for something God called us to do when we don’t know what will be on the other side? If we’re ever faced with such crossroads, let us pray to increase our faith in God and welcome “the land he will show us.”
Only with the faith of Abraham could we bear similar hardships as Timothy did to proclaim the Gospel to faithless and skeptical listeners. But with the help of God’s grace, we also can gain the strength to weather the afflictions of whatever daunting mission we’re called to pursue.
More Love – More Success
To achieve the success of Paul and Timothy, we must love the Gospel in the same way we must love our careers or choices of work to succeed at them. We must respond to the joy of our call that’s hidden in the sadness of our afflictions, prepare ourselves for trials without fear of man’s responses, and with the confidence that our Lord will guide us in our speech. Our love of God can easily eclipse our fear of man.
When Paul gave Timothy his blessing, he stirred up his power in him, just as the Holy Spirit can do with us. Paul was the seed for Timothy and many others at the time. And there can be “seeds” in our lives as well who can spur us to greater passion and proclamation of the Gospel. Seek those seeds out in others and you’ll be grateful for your discoveries.
Transfigure Us O Lord
Our selfless actions, service and love to others can transfigure us into the likeness of Jesus. With his presence burning brightly within us, we can begin to show our true identity to others just as Christ showed his true identity to Peter, James and John on that mountain.
Though there may be obstacles that get in the way of showing our true God-given identity to others, this Lenten season can be an ideal time to address those areas of our lives that hinder us from revealing who we really are in Christ?
We will never see what Peter, James and John saw in Jesus on that mountain, but we can see that radiance of Jesus’ face in the face of others.
And when we discover that someone; that “salt of the earth” friend, fellow parishioner or co-worker, we’ll be strengthened by their radiance and Christlike being, and be encouraged to emulate them ourselves.
Although it required Peter, James and John to see the transfiguration as proof of Jesus’ divinity and become true believers in him, how privileged we are to have this proof of his divinity and desire for our salvation in our holy scriptures today.
(For more reflections on the Sunday Readings, Go Here)
