Forward in Faith!

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Second Sunday of Lent

Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9: 28-36

The second Sunday of Lent highlights the act of ‘moving forward’ as a profound expression of one’s faith. 

The readings of the day underline the importance of such a movement that defies the inclination to stay stuck while courageously accepting what such moving forward entails. 

The first reading shows Abram (later Abraham) experiencing a moment of uncertainty. Though he has been promised descendants and land by God, since he has no children, the promise seems far from fulfillment. However, God reassures Abram by promising him that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars of the sky and goes on to establish His covenant with His people. The passage is theologically rich and significant because it offers the reason for Abraham being named the father of faith. Theologians distinguish between ‘despite faith’ and ‘therefore faith.’ Abram’s faith belongs to the former category because he ‘moves forward’ trusting in God’s providence. This ‘leap of faith’ makes Abraham the father of faith. 

In the second reading, Paul exhorts the believers to follow his example and stand firm in the Lord. Paul’s instruction to the Philippian community contrasts the behaviors and mindsets of faithful believers with those of enemies of the cross. While Paul urges the Philippians to imitate his own example and others who live according to the faith, he orders them to reject the ways of the enemies of the cross of Christ. By encouraging the Philippian community to remain steadfast in faith, Paul invites them to ever move toward the heavenly homeland. For Paul, the reward of our faith is heaven, and a faithful life offers the needed foundation to reap our future reward. 

The Gospel account shows that the transfiguration of Jesus occurs when he is praying. The moment of discernment is also the moment of revelation at Mount Tabor. Jesus discloses briefly his heavenly glory, with ‘dazzling white’ representing the color of heavenly garments. The dramatic event is sealed with God’s approval with the words, “My Son, My Chosen.” 

The theologically significant event has its lessons for our spiritual life too. 

More often than not, we are represented by Peter, who wants to ‘freeze’ the moment by his appeal for a prolonged stay in the aura of heavenly glory. But Jesus represents the ideal of movement as significative of the Christian mission. Hence, the struggle is essentially about the oscillation between stagnation and movement, characterized by Peter and Jesus, respectively. 

Figuratively speaking, the ‘pull’ factor that motivates Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem is hindered by the ‘push’ factor in Peter, who is unnerved by the consequences of staying away from that place of glory. Put differently, Peter grows uncomfortable about what Jesus’ intended movement would deprive him of – the comfort that he cannot experience away from a place of glory like Mount Tabor. 

Nevertheless, Jesus makes the winning claim. By constantly progressing in his journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus is willing to carry his ‘daily’ cross to actualize its culmination on Mount Calvary. Freezing the moment is about comfort; letting go of it is about sacrifice. It is in that sacrifice – in the perfection of humiliation – that the glorification of transfigured Jesus lies. 

Let us pray that we may have the gift of ever moving forward in faith, trusting in God’s providence. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar