Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” March-April 2023
2nd Sunday of Lent (A)
2nd week, psalter cycle
FIRST READING
From the Book of Genesis (Gen 12:1-4a)
In those days, the Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from your land, your kindred, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will find blessing in you.” Then Abram went as the Lord directed him. – The word of God.
Commentary on the first reading
After the covenant established with Noah, in which God swears fidelity to creation, human beings once again behave badly. Yet God continues to seek communion with them: after the dispersion at Babel comes the call of Abraham, significantly called to break every social and clan bond in order to follow the ways of the Lord unconditionally. God’s command - “go forth from your land” - is followed by a promise of abundant blessing that concerns not only his descendants, but also all who will welcome the story of salvation. God’s command is followed by Abraham’s obedience, as he allows God to dispose of him and his destiny. Trusting in him, he sets out on his word. In this departure, not only Israel but all the children of the promise recognize the prototype of the subsequent departures that the Lord asks of his own: the exodus, the return from Babylon, the disciples’ following of Christ, and the commitment to live as strangers and pilgrims in this world. Abraham’s obedient faith will remain for everyone the paradigm of the response to their own vocation.
SECOND READING
From the Second Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy (2 Tim 1:8b-10)
My son, with the strength that comes from God, suffer with me for the Gospel. He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own design and grace. This grace was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but it has now been revealed through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. – The word of God.
Commentary on the second reading
From Rome, Paul, imprisoned as a common criminal, sends his beloved disciple Timothy an earnest appeal in the tone of a final message. Physical imprisonment has been joined by moral suffering; nevertheless, this must not become a cause of shame or discouragement for his spiritual son. On the contrary, this is precisely the moment to rekindle the charism received through the laying on of hands and draw from it that spirit of strength, love, and wisdom which makes it possible to face the hour of trial victoriously. It is inevitable that Christ’s disciples should suffer for their faith, but they are not alone in persecution: God’s grace sustains them in their witness and makes human weakness contribute to salvation as well. In the brief final verse, Paul expresses the central core of the proclamation of faith: the Incarnation, the death, and the Resurrection of the Savior. He has opened a passage toward the light for us, conquering death: in his footsteps - and in the footsteps of the saints - Timothy, like all Christians, can face suffering for the Gospel with faith and love.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:1-9)
At that time, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them: his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, it is good that we are here! If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud cast its shadow over them. And behold, a voice from the cloud said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were overcome with great fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying: “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus ordered them: “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” – The Gospel of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel of the day
During Lent, we are called to climb upward to see beyond our limits, with the effort of overcoming the fear that blocks our most difficult decisions. Only in this way can we see beyond the narrow horizons where we have organized and arranged everything and everyone according to our rigid mental patterns. But does love perhaps follow a logic? If we want to climb upward with Jesus, we must be capable of rising above the clouds that prevent us from truly seeing what is beautiful and true beyond the personalized skyline we have created for ourselves. But to see beyond, we need God’s light, the only light capable of reaching all those dark corners of our soul where we have hidden our weaknesses. But after being above, after seeing beyond, we must be capable of finding that same light again in the face of another. I believe that the most beautiful experience of transfiguration we can have is precisely to transform our faith into a concrete experience of loving service to others; otherwise, everything is reduced merely to an intimate relationship between us and God, and that is certainly not what Jesus taught us.
