DAILY- HOMILY

March 8, 2009
2nd Sunday of Lent - B

Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
God put Abraham to the test.
He called to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am!" he replied.
Then God said:
"Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah.
There you shall offer him up as a holocaust
on a height that I will point out to you."
When they came to the place of which God had told him,
Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.
Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven,
"Abraham, Abraham!"
"Here I am!" he answered.
"Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger.
"Do not do the least thing to him.
I know now how devoted you are to God,
since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."
As Abraham looked about,
he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.
So he went and took the ram
and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.
Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:
"I swear by myself, declares the LORD,
that because you acted as you did
in not withholding from me your beloved son,
I will bless you abundantly
and make your descendants as countless
as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;
your descendants shall take possession
of the gates of their enemies,
and in your descendants all the nations of the earth
shall find blessing—
all this because you obeyed my command."

Rom 8:31b-34
Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?
Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised—
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.

Mk 9:2-10
Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

REFLECTION
The disciples particularly Peter were very ecstatic as evidenced in
Peter's suggestion that three tents in honor of three great men be
built and they remain there. There was no need to go back to the noisy
and confusing world. They wanted that moment to last forever. But
Jesus is adamant that they return. It was not yet time for them to
depart from the world.

Perhaps we can identify with Peter and his companions. We remember the
moments when Jesus seems very close. These beautiful experiences with
the Lord, however, do not last forever, neither should we live like
they will or should last forever. To live and work, to love the Lord
daily is something that we will have to continue to actualize in life.
The challenge then is to see the Lord in the most ordinary situations
and moments in daily living. Yet we cannot deny that we need to be
encouraged in our journey with the Lord especially when things seem to
be very difficult and falling apart.

Jesus warns them not to talk about this marvelous experience until it
had been fulfilled. And we know from Scriptures how the apostles
became bold enough to proclaim the Risen Lord only after they received
the Holy Spirit during Pentecost.

This advice of Jesus to Peter and his companions not to share the
transforming experiences is something that we were not given. Yet,
ironically, some of us seem hesitant to share our experiences. All of
us have had religious experiences when we felt how much God loves us,
how He continues to be gracious with His many gifts, how He has
forgiven us. Yet, we need to ask ourselves whether we have been
generous in sharing these experiences with others. Or have we simply
resort to sharing these moments when i t is convenient for us?

During this Season of Lent, our celebration may become more meaningful
not only through the sharing of material resources but also when we
share our experiences of God. Let us share our moments with God
especially with those whom we feel are being left out by the Church
and those who seem to lose hope.

We are familiar with the insight "The gift one receives, give it
freely." God will never be outdone in generosity. Like Abraham who was
at a loss when God asked him to offer his son in sacrifice; Abraham's
heart was pained and his mind confused. Yet Abraham trusted God and
God did not let him down. God blessed him generously.

During this season of Lent, let us consider and reflect on how we can
best encounter God in our prayers or in our daily lives. Let us share
our encounters of God with others.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the healing and strength of:
- Vijay K.
- Sister Teresa Mabasa, DC
- Marlyn Tadeo
… for the personal intentions of
- Mary Wong
- Dapo family
- Veronica Yap
… Birthday: Sharon Pesengco
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Thanksgiving: Janice L. Gotamco
… for the healing and peace of all families

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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