February 25
Second Sunday of Lent
“I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.”
Readings
Reflection
This Sunday’s readings speak to God’s awesome benevolence. While we could never envision ourselves sacrificing one of our children in order to show God that we love him, we need to recognize that this is exactly what God did for us–he offered up his only and beloved son so we could have freedom from sin.
In the first reading from Genesis, God tells Abraham to take his son Isaac to a land called Moriah and sacrifice him as a test of how much Abraham loves him. Abraham takes his son on this journey and just as he raises his knife to carry out God’s request he is told to stop. He has passed the test of love for God.
In the second reading from the letter to the Romans, we are reminded that God gave up his only Son for our sake so that we might have eternal life once again, and that this Son now sits at God’s right hand to plead for us.
In the gospel, we read St Mark’s account of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Christ was seen in dazzling white robes in a foretaste of godliness and purity. For a few moments, the awesome truth that Jesus is God is there for all to see. This moment of Transfiguration gives us a clear picture of who Jesus truly is; he is the beloved son of the one and only God. The presence of Moses and Elijah brings the picture into full clarity–Jesus is the very incarnation of God as a human being and is every bit as precious and loved as a son could be. His father’s words of love echo through the reading as God says; “This is my beloved son, listen to him.”
Our readings today bring us the realization that God’s sacrifice of his only Son was done out of his great love for us. Our response to this incredible news should be one of great joy and appreciation that we are made clean by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Let us always remember the sacrifice that God offered for us.
Peace,
Deacon Dare
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