2nd Sunday of Lent 2008

In the first centuries of the Church the season of Lent was not so much a penitential season for Easter but more a season of preparation for baptism. The only day in which baptisms took place was at Easter and the weeks that lay before it were used as an intensive period of preparation for those who were about to be baptised. It may interest you to know that the readings that we use during the Sundays of Lent are the same readings that were used in those early times. They are meant to be key moments in Our Lord’s life and were used to explain key things about him.

The Gospel reading that we use for this Sunday is about the Transfiguration. That moment when the Lord was seen transfigured by light on Mount Tabor. One of the things about St Matthew’s Gospel is that he wants to say that our Lord is the fulfilment of the hopes of Israel. 10 commandments/ the sermon on the Mt; the Passover/the last Supper. The evangelist Matthew has that same desire in the Transfiguration. Mount Tabor was a place where the prophet Elijah left the world on a fiery chariot and was expected to return in light and now our Lord is the true Elijah returned in light. The presence of Moses and Elijah confirm Jesus as their fulfilment, he is the fulfilment of the law and the prophets. The mention of the tents refers to the great tents that they put over the arc of the covenant as it travelled from places to place, now no tent could contain the presence of God among them. Everything is about fulfilment: the presence of Jesus fulfils the law, the prophets and everything, he is the Messiah that was awaited.

All this takes place as we hear on the mountain top. The mountain was always a place that God was present. Just as he was might, at the very pinnacle of things, so he showed himself in the highest of places. In places where man could reach out and touch the heavens.

Lent is still a season of preparation for candidates for baptism, in which they are invited to make the journey, climb the mountain, reach the top. At Easter all over the Church adults are received and baptised in the Church principally at Easter. For them Lent is a journey and Easter is the end of the journey. For many they have been searching and now this is the end of their search. I don’t think it is too fanciful to think that the season is also a baptismal season for us all. Our recommitment to the journey of faith. Our desire to do things more seriously. Our desire to leave behind things that keep us from God. We are still on the journey, still want to reach the mountain top at the end of our lives.

This Sunday on which we hear of the Transfiguration we are being reminded of the end of the journey which is to see Christ transfigured in light. We are invited to the mountain top in which man can stretch out and touch the heavens. There are many good experiences that human beings have that make their spirit soar, as if they are standing on the heights: parents who have children; success in life; celebrations of key moments in life; things that people achieve – these things make the spirit soar and make them feel that they have reached he mountain top. But nothing makes the spirit soar than the feeling that your are in the presence of God. That you are on the mountain top and you see Our Lord in light. There are many times that we feel we are at the very mountain top: in moments of prayer, in moments of deep faith, in moments when we feel that we have made the right decisions in our life, in moments when we love – it is as if we feel the tangible presence of God. Maybe sometimes these moments don’t last but as if we are sustained by them to travel on, to journey through life, to keep climbing to our ultimate destination where we hope to stand on the heights and meet God.

So it is in Lent we suddenly remember what we are supposed to be doing. We are on a journey. It is a journey of faith. It is a journey in which we are finding God. The journey is not just a day to day thing. It has its end, to find ourselves in the heights. We might find joy on this journey but there will also be pain and uncertainties. We are climbing to the heights. It will be the most intense experience of our lives to reach the heights: the greatest joy that we have here on earth will be small by comparison, the greatest achievement will be small by comparison – for in that moment the soul will be united with God.

Prayers of Intercession Second Sunday of Lent

Priest

Like Peter and James and John we are invited to the high mountain to be with God. God is present in our lives, he is near us, he has shown himself to us.

Intercessor

For the Church which knows the one true God – that all of us may live in union with God in our daily lives

Lord hear us

For a strengthening in the gift of faith which comes through baptism especially in this season of Lent, that we may come close to God who always wishes to be close to us.

Lord hear us

For those who seem to have lost their faith in the midst of the world of created things – that they may find their way to God who is our creator and saviour.

Lord hear us

For children beginning the journey of faith, that they may be well taught and have good examples who live that faith in daily life.

Lord hear us

For all who are sick and in need of our prayers, especially for parishioners who are in hospital, that they may soon recover and be well again.

Lord hear us

For all who have died Sadie and all who have asked for prayers for those whose anniversary occurs at this time.

Lord hear us

Priest

Heavenly Father,

We know you not by our human efforts but through your grace. You have revealed yourself to us as the God of love in your son Jesus Christ. Help us to know you throughout our lives and remain faithful to you.

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