Homily: Second Sunday of Lent

February 24 , 2002

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver

My sisters and brothers in Christ:

Today’s Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 33:
“Our soul waits for the Lord who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you”

As we continue our journey in this Lenten Season we are still looking for the Lord. Lent is a time of discovery. A time to ask ourselves if we are making progress in our Christian life. Lent is a time for a real conversion, for a “change of heart”.

Each of us is called, every day, to conversion. To follow Jesus is a conscious choice, made on a daily basis.

Lent, the Holy Father says in his Lenten message, is the providential time for conversion and it helps us to contemplate the stupendous mystery of the Love of God (Cf. JP II Lenten message 2002).

Today’s readings remind us of the basic elements of our journey of faith. Our life of faith is a lifelong commitment but Lent provides us with a “testing ground”, forty days, to evaluate and improve our Christian life.

In today’s preface we’ll pray: “Father … on your holy mountain he revealed himself in glory in the presence of his disciples. He had already prepared them for his approaching death. He wanted to teach them through the Law and Prophets that the promised Christ had first to suffer and so come to the glory of his resurrection”.

In our Christian life, everything starts with an act of faith. In the 1st reading of Today’s Mass, Abraham was asked to leave everything and go to the Promised land:
“Go forth from the land of your ancestors and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you”.

Abraham placed his faith and trust in God, and left his land and everything and everyone he knew to answer God’s call.

Today, once again, we are asked to follow his example! This is a time for us to pause and reflect on where we are now and where we are going in our daily lives.

We need faith. A strong faith that helps us to make good decisions and be constant in putting them into practice. Let’s ask God for his grace and especially for the renewal of our faith during this Lenten season.

“Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you” Ps. 33

But we know that having faith includes effort, sacrifice, dedication. That’s what the 2nd reading of Today’s Mass reminds us:

“Beloved, bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God” 2Tim. 1, 8-10.

“The Christian has to be another Christ … ‘The divine Teacher and model of all perfection preached holiness of life … to each and every one of his disciples without distinction: “You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Mt. 5,48)” Lumen Gentium, 40 (Cf. In Conversation with God, 2.11.3)

This is our faith. It is a real challenge. The goal is high, no doubt about it. But we all know that it is worthwhile and that in our effort we are not alone. God is with us and with Him we can do everything.

It is interesting to remember that just before the Transfiguration, Today’s passage of the Gospel, Jesus told his disciples that” he was to undergo suffering in Jerusalem, that he was going to die at the hands of the chief priests, the elders and the Scribes. The Apostles had been saddened and dismayed by this announcement” (In Conversations with God, 2.12.1)

Following Jesus Christ implies to deny ourselves, to forget about ourselves and to be generous in spirit of penance and sacrifice.

“Christianity is not an easy way of life. It is not enough just to be in the Church, letting the years roll by … We cannot stay still. We must keep going ahead toward the goal St. Paul marks out: ‘It is not I who live, it is Christ that lives in me’ (Gal. 2,20)” (Blessed Josemaria Escriva,Christ is passing by, 57-58).

Lent is a great opportunity to practice penance, prayer, and charity. It is not enough for us to have good intentions about the ideals of Lent; we need to make a decision about what we are going to do and make it happen.

As Pope Paul VI said in 1974: “It is necessary to recall and discover the positive aspect of Lent, that is, of Christian penitence”

It includes fasting and abstinence, but it also means our daily effort to fulfill our resolutions during this time of lent. Resolutions regarding our spiritual life, our dealings with other people and our personal responsibilities in family life, society, etc.

After the conversation in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus knew that the Apostles were confused and discourage. Then, he takes Peter, James and John and “he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light…” St. Mt. 17, 1-9.

They couldn’t believe it. They were so happy. St. Peter tells 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”

St. Leo the Great says that “The principal aim of the Transfiguration was to banish from the disciples’ souls the scandal of the Cross’” In Conversation with God, 2.12.1

God will provide us with the strength needed to face the challenges in our lives –no matter how great or small. God is with us and with Him we can do everything.

This Lenten season, let us decide our own special program of penance, using the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation together with daily prayer and devotions. Let us remember to perform individual acts of charity and generosity to those in need, especially our family and friends.

“The thought of the glory that awaits us should acts as a spur in our daily struggle. Nothing is of such value as gaining Heaven: ‘and always bearing in mind this determination to die rather that to fail to reach the end of the way, if God ever causes you to suffer from thirst as he guides you through this life, it is because he will give you drink in plenty in the next life, without any fear of it every failing you’ (St. Teresa of Avila).”
(In Conversation with God, 2.12.2).

The Apostles never forgot the moment of the Transfiguration. It was a real confirmation of the divinity of Jesus Christ and I am sure that at the moments of stress or discouragement, they went back to that moment with their memory and imagination.

Let’s never forget that our goal is heaven and there we will have, by the grace of God, the fullness of love and happiness forever. It will help us to be generous this lent and always.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our mother, intercede for us these days that we’ll be faithful to our own resolutions during this Lenten season.

Amen.