Greatness In Sacrifice: The Second Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent: Greatness In Sacrifice

3/8/2020

The purpose of the season of Lent is for us disciples of the Lord to become holy. We are to willingly put ourselves into the crucible to be purified of all our sins and disordered habits; it is a time to grow in self-mastery and detach ourselves from the world. It is a time to cast ourselves into the deep, to trust in God’s great mercy, and to give ourselves completely to Jesus Christ, the God-man.

Jesus is Lord, the only begotten Son of God the Father, true God and true man. He is the light of the world, the life, the Truth. From the second reading we learn that in order to live wholly for Jesus, we must submit ourselves completely to the will of the Father. Abram does this when called out of his hometown in Genesis; he gives it all to God, listening to His voice. If we would but open ourselves to His voice and invite the Holy Spirit to increase within us and develop a better relationship with the Blessed Virgin, we would be rewarded greatly. God reveals Himself to those who desire to know Him. Jesus revealed himself in the Transfiguration, showing his heavenly glory to Peter, James, and John, as the Spirit came in the form of a cloud and the Father spoke His love unto Jesus, commanding the Apostles to listen to him.

In this week’s Gospel we get a glimpse of the glory of God. When reflecting on the readings, we see that the Holy Trinity is so deep, so mysterious, yet so full of love, for God is love. God loves us, and He desires us to know Him. But in order to know God, we must accept His offer of love and mercy by letting ourselves be touched by Jesus. This is no small task- it takes great humility, true repentance, and a contrite heart. But through Jesus and in Jesus, we are strengthened and encouraged to bear the burden of truth, leaving comfort behind, for it is only by sacrifice that greatness is achieved. God calls us to greatness, to be transfigured like His Son, not by our own power but by His. This life is not given to us so that we may live it for ourselves; we are to use the gifts we have been given to glorify God, to model Jesus as a living sacrifice.

This Lent let us remember that we exist to glorify God. Let us take time to contemplate the supreme mystery of the Holy Trinity in silent prayer. May we find peace while dwelling in this silence where God speaks, emptying ourselves of our own unholy attachments to this world. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”

Based on Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 17:1-9