First reading Genesis 12:1-4
All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.
‘I will bless those who bless you:
I will curse those who slight you.
All the tribes of the earth
shall bless themselves by you.’
So Abram went as the Lord told him.
Responsorial Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22
May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
The word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
The Lord is our help and our shield.
May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you.
Second reading 2 Timothy 1:8-10
God calls and enlightens us
With me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy – not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace. This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News.
Gospel Matthew 17:1-9
His face shone like the sun
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’
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Facing the unknown future with trust in God
In the first reading from the book of Genesis, God calls Abraham to leave everything familiar behind for an unknown place. “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s house, for the land I will show you… So Abram went as the Lord commanded him.” Abraham illustrates the essence of faith. It is not merely about stating it in words; it is about placing our trust in God and demonstrating that faith through our actions, even when the future seems uncertain. Sometimes, God calls us to take steps that are not easy, for example, letting go of old habits that prevent us from living a life of love or taking steps to foster peace in our families, or being more involved in a faith community. We may not always see where God is leading us, but we are called to trust in Him to take that journey alongside us.
In today’s gospel, God speaks from a cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved, he enjoys my favour. Listen to him”. As we enter into the second week of Lent, let us turn our hearts toward Jesus and place our trust in Him. Though the road ahead may be challenging, we can take comfort that He is with us. Jesus is our unwavering hope who will never let us down.
Reflective question:
Am I willing to take a step into the unknown future with God?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
