01 March 2026, Second Sunday of Lent: From the Call to the Cloud: The Radiant Path of Obedience



This Sunday, 1st of March 2026, Catholics celebrates the Second Sunday of Lent. The readings (Genesis 12:1-4a, 2 Timothy 1:8b-10, Matthew 17:1-9) invite us to meditate on the cost of discipleship and the promise of glory that awaits those who persevere.

The themes found in the first, second and Gospel readings are:

1.      The Call to Journey and Sacrifice: In the 1st reading, Abram—who will be later called Abraham—obeys God’s instructions to leave everything familiar behind. St Augustine sees this event within the Gospel when Peter, James and John also obeyed Jesus by following him up on Mount Tabor.

2.      The Divine Revelation in Darkness and Light: Whether with Abraham or during the Transfiguration, God shows His glory to strengthen His people through the “shadows” or challenges of the Lenten journey.

3.      The Necessity of Listening: God’s voice from the cloud gives one command: “Listen to him.” This command is a bridge between the Old and the New Covenants, between Moses/Elijah and Jesus.

4.      Strength for the Passion: The 2nd reading reminds us to “bear your share of hardship” through God’s strength. This echoes the purpose of the Transfiguration: preparing the apostles for the scandal of the Cross.

 What can we do to obey and accompany Jesus up in Mount Tabor?

  • Climb the Mountain of Prayer: Set aside 15 minutes of your personal time away from the “noise” of daily life for prayer.

  • “Listen to Him (Jesus)” through Obedience: Identify one area of your life where you have been “hard of hearing” or deaf to God’s will or commands. Actively choose to obey a difficult call this week, just as Abram (Abraham) left his family and relatives to answer God’s calling.

  • Bear Hardship with Grace: When a Lenten sacrifice or a daily trial feels heavy, consciously offer it up as a “share of hardship for the Gospel,” trusting that the dazzling light of the Resurrection is the final word and not the suffering itself.

Location: Milwaukee, WI, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2025 09 14 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time & The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: The Paradox of the Crucifixion in Scripture

Image
Credits:  https://www.vaticannews.va/en/liturgical-holidays/feast-of-the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross.html In light of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, our readings for today connect Numbers 21:4b-9, Philippians 2:6-11, and John 3:13-17 through the central theme of the exaltation of the cross , which transforms a symbol of humiliation into a sign of victory and salvation. Humiliation and Exaltation In the first reading, the Israelites' rebellion leads to a deadly plague of venomous snakes. God's remedy is to have Moses mount a bronze serpent on a pole, which becomes a sign of healing. The low point of suffering and death is linked to a remedy that brings life. In the second reading, St. Paul teaches that Jesus, who is God, "empties himself" (a concept known as kenosis ). He takes on the form of a servant and becomes obedient to the point of a shameful death on a cross. Because of this self-humiliation, God "greatly exalted him" and gave him a n...
Read more

21 December 2025, The Fourth Advent Sunday - Emmanuel: the Promise Kept

Image
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Cycle A: First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 Common Themes and Catechism Connections The readings for this Sunday converge on the pivotal moment of history where ancient prophecy meets reality: the Incarnation of God. 1. The Fulfillment of Prophecy and the Virgin Birth The central thread connecting Isaiah and Matthew is the miraculous sign of the Virgin Birth. Isaiah prophesies to King Ahaz that "the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son" (Is 7:14). Matthew explicitly identifies the conception of Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy (Mt 1:22-23).  CCC 497: The Catechism cites Matthew 1:18-25 and Isaiah 7:14, teaching that the Gospel accounts understand the virginal conception as a divine work that surpasses all human understanding and fulfills the promise given to Israel. CCC 498: Mentions that the silence of St. Mark's gospel and the New Testament Epistles regarding the vir...
Read more

09/28/2025 - The Sin of Indifference: Wealth, Justice, and Eternal Judgment

Image
Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/artisticco?mediatype=illustration The common themes of the three readings for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C , on September 28, 2025, according to Catholic teachings, revolve around wealth and poverty, the condemnation of selfish indifference, and the call to social justice and moral responsibility. The readings are: First Reading: Amos 6:1a, 4–7 Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11–16 Gospel: Luke 16:19–31 (The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus) Condemnation of Selfish Indifference and Complacency All three readings harshly critique those who are preoccupied with their own comfort and luxury while remaining uncaring and indifferent to the suffering of the poor. In the first reading , Amos proclaims his third "Woe". This time against the complacent wealthy in Zion who indulge in extravagant living ("beds of ivory," "eat the lambs," "drink win...
Read more