Master, It Is Good To Be Here, Can We Stay?
Second Sunday of Lent
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” Luke 9:36
The Transfiguration, 1480 by Bellini, Giovanni
This Sunday’s readings remind me of a motivational bestseller book that I read when I was in college, maybe you have read it too. It is called “Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way To Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life” by Spencer Johnson, which relates the story of two mice and two little men in search for cheese that allegorically represent happiness and success. Basically the book presents change in life as an opportunity to grow, mature and get better, although not always easy to deal with them. It is also an encouragement to overcome our fears by facing the changes of our life. Sometimes we get so comfortable, even in our spiritual life, that we would rather stay as we are (Like Ash Wednesday for example that everybody is Catholic). In the readings today God invites us to leave our “comfort zone” that is only when we overcome our fears that we are truly free. In the first reading for example, taken from the Book of Genesis, God invites Abram to leave his land and promises a new land for him and his descendants.
St. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven and exhort us not to get occupied with earthly things. In the gospel, on the other hand, we heard Peter asking Jesus if they could stay at the top of the mountain not knowing that, in fact, they have to go down to Jerusalem to prepare for Jesus passion and crucifixion. So, the question again is, how comfortable are we in our faith and spiritual life. Is there something in my life that ties me up like unbreakable chains that stops me from moving forward in my faith? Am I afraid of turning myself completely to God and therefore I prefer to get “comfortable” and “happy” with earthly things? Don’t be afraid of coming out of your comfort zone; Don’t be afraid of surrender yourself to Jesus; and ultimately, don’t be afraid of being free!
Readings for the Week
Monday: Dn 9:4b-10; Ps 79:8, 9, 11, 13; Lk 6:36-38
Tuesday: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27,29; Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22; Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a
Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31:5-6, 14-16; Mt 20:17-28
Thursday: Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 16:19-31
Friday: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a; 17b-28a; Ps 105:16-21; Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20; Ps 103:1-4, 9-12; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
Sunday: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15; Ps 103:1-4, 6-8, 11; 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9
Alternate readings (Year A): Ex 17:3-7;Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; Rom 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-42 [5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42]