March 1st 2015 - Second Sunday of
Lent
Bonds Loosed
Readings:
Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18
Psalm 116:10, 15-19
Romans 8:31-34
Mark 9:2-10
Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18
Psalm 116:10, 15-19
Romans 8:31-34
Mark 9:2-10
The Lenten season
continues with another story of testing. Last Sunday, we heard the trial of
Jesus in the desert. In this week’s First Reading, we hear of how Abraham was
put to the test.
The Church has
always read this story as a sign of God’s love for the world in giving His only
begotten son.
In today’s Epistle,
Paul uses exact words drawn from this story to describe how God, like Abraham,
did not withhold His only Son, but handed Him over for us on the cross (see
Romans 8:32; Genesis 22:12,16).
In the Gospel today,
too, we hear another echo. Jesus is called God’s “beloved Son” - as Isaac is
described as Abraham’s beloved firstborn son.
These readings are
given to us in Lent to reveal Christ’s identity and to strengthen us in the
face of our afflictions.
Jesus is shown to be
the true son that Abraham rejoiced to see (see Matthew 1:1; John 8:56). In His
transfiguration, He is revealed to be the “prophet like Moses” foretold by God
- raised from among their own kinsmen, speaking with God’s own authority (see
Deuteronomy 18:15,19).
Like Moses, He
climbs the mountain with three named friends and beholds God’s glory in a cloud
(see Exodus 24:1,9,15). He is the one prophesied to come after Elijah’s return
(see Sirach 48:9-10; Malachi 3:1,23-24).
And, as He discloses
to the apostles, He is the Son of Man sent to suffer and die for our sins (see
Isaiah 53:3).
As we sing in
today’s Psalm, Jesus believed in the face of His afflictions, and God loosed
Him from the bonds of death (see Psalm 116:3).
His rising should
give us the courage to face our trials, to offer ourselves totally to the
Father - as He did, as Abraham and Isaac did.
Freed from death by
His death, we come to this Mass to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and to
renew our vows - as His servants and faithful ones.
Yours in Christ,
Scott Hahn
