Breaking Open the Word
By James Cavanagh
Feb. 28: Second Sunday of Lent
Scripture readings:
- Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
- Psalm 27:1, 7-9, 13-14
- Philippians 3:17 – 4:1
- Luke 9:28-36
Overview: The first reading recounts the Covenant between God and Abram. God tells Abram to “count the stars if you can … so shall your descendents be” (vs. 5). It’s important to note that a few verses later the narrative continues: “As the sun was going down ….” thus indicating that Abram was to told to count the stars during the day. Even though Abram couldn’t see them, the stars were there. At 99 years old, Abram couldn’t see how he could have any descendents. Nevertheless he believed God “who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.” The second reading is closely related to the Gospel as St. Paul talks about the transformation that awaits us when the Lord will change “our lowly body to conform with his glorified body.” Like Abraham we can’t see how this will happen, but our faith assures us that it will be so. The Transfiguration in this week’s Gospel is reminiscent of Moses on Mount Sinai, when “the skin of his face shone” (Ex 34:29). Only Luke describes Jesus’ passion as his “exodus.” That Jesus took Peter, James and John with him up the mountain just as Moses took Aaron, Nadab and Abihu up Mount Sinai underscores the connection. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, represented by Moses and Elijah. The entire Old Testament points to Christ. As the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” says, “Through the prophets God forms his people in the hope of salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant intended for all, to be written on their hearts” (No. 64).
Key verse: “Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem” (Lk 9:30-31).
“Catechism of the Catholic Church”: “For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter’s confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to ‘enter into his glory.’ Moses and Elijah had seen God’s glory on the mountain; the law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah’s sufferings” (No. 555).
Pope Benedict XVI: “Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus. Their topic of conversation is the Cross. Jesus’ cross is an Exodus: a departure from this life, a passage through the ‘Red Sea’ of the Passion and a transition into glory—a glory, however, that forever bears the mark of Jesus’ wounds” (“Jesus of Nazareth”).
Life application: Jesus revealed his glory to Peter, James and John to show them that the “exodus” he was to undergo in Jerusalem would not end in destruction, but glory. At the beginning of our Lenten journey we are given a foretaste of Easter which sustains us on the way. The way to the Promised Land passes by way of the Cross. In th evision of His glory is our hope.
