Second Sunday of Lent

 

Praise be to Jesus Christ

Were you able to spend time in grace last week?

How is your Lent?

 

Lent is a blessed time when our faith can mature so that it may take another step in God’s grace.  Let us be aware of Lent and accomplish one or two goals we set for ourselves.  

 

Today is the Second Sunday of Lent and the topic is “hope.”  

Hope gives us strength to live:

Hope that it will get better

Hope that we will make more money and be stable

Our hope for the children gives us tremendous strength

Couples relationships breakdown when there is no hope

Furthermore, hope gives us power to protect our faith:

Hope of resurrection

Hope that God will take care of us

Hope of an everlasting life sustains our faith

We pray that each one of will discover unwavering new hope in our lives and faith.  

We find hope in Ukraine.  People’s will and support from other nations is hope for Ukraine.  

The unprovoked unilateral Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in destruction of many cities and high casualties.  Despite the formidable attacks, the volunteering soldiers, material support from other nations, the anti-war demonstration along with hope of peace have fought against the Russian military.  We pray for peace in Ukraine.  

 

We also find hope in the first reading.  Abram’s hope is the covenant with God.  Despite his age, Abram did not have any children.  But God told him: like the stars in the sky “shall your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5)   Abram experiences extreme emotional experience and secures his hope when a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passes through the offerings that were split in halves.  

 

In today’s gospel, the disciples find hope in Jesus’ transfiguration.  The passion Jesus is about to endure is also dark and difficulty time for the disciples.  They must watch Jesus’ pain and suffering in addition they may also be captured and tortured.  But their hope of resurrection embraces them when they witnessed Jesus’ face and clothing became dazzling white.  

 

We find hope in Lent.  Our hope is Easter.  It is not easy to live out Lent.  The liturgy is much more solemn; we omit Alleluia and Gloria to show penitence.  There are obligations we must carry out.  We offer ourselves voluntarily to pray and abstain along with the Stations of the Cross.  With the hope of Easter joy, we are able to pass through the long dark tunnel, Lent.  

Today’s second reading identifies who we are: “Our citizenship is in heaven.”  (Phil 3:20)   As a citizen of heaven, I hope we have keep our steadfast hope and embroider next week beautifully and gracefully in God.  

Let us meditate for a moment.