This year’s readings of the second Sunday of Lent are inviting us into profound reflections on faith, obedience and the transformative power of divine love.
In the first reading, Abraham faces the ultimate test of faith as God commands him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Abraham’s unwavering obedience, even in the face of such a heart-wrenching request, exemplifies absolute trust in God’s will. His readiness to surrender what he holds most dear challenges us to reflect on our own attachments and our willingness to place them in God’s hands. This narrative underscores that true faith often requires profound surrender and trust, leading to abundant blessings beyond our comprehension.
Paul reassures us of God’s unwavering support, emphasizing that if God is for us, no one can stand against us. The passage highlights the ultimate act of love: God not sparing His own Son but delivering Him for our sake. This profound truth invites us to trust in God’s boundless generosity and the assurance that, through Christ’s intercession, we are acquitted and embraced by divine mercy.
The Transfiguration narrative reveals Jesus in radiant glory, affirming His divine sonship. The disciples’ awe and the Father’s command to “listen to Him” call us to deepen our attentiveness to Jesus’ teachings. This moment of revelation encourages us to seek transformation in our own lives, embracing the light of Christ to guide us through the valleys of our existence.
Fr Jean Gailhac profoundly understood that love is the essence of spiritual vitality. He asserted, “Not to love is to remain in death, and to be in death and not to rise is not to love. Let us love to come out of the tomb and let us come out of the tomb to love.” (GS/26/III/77/A)
During Lenten time, we are invited to examine the ‘tombs’ in our lives—the areas where we are entombed by fear, resentment, or apathy. Embracing love as Fr. Gailhac encourages means allowing the transformative power of Christ’s love to liberate us from these confines. It calls us to active love—expressed through acts of kindness, forgiveness, and solidarity with those in need.
In the context of the Second Sunday of Lent, this transformative love empowers us to:
Embrace sacrificial Trust: Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it demands personal sacrifice, knowing that such faith leads to profound blessings.
Cultivate grateful obedience: The psalmist’s example urges us to remain thankful and faithful, recognizing God’s hand in our lives amidst trials.
Affirm our divine advocacy: Paul’s words remind us that Christ’s intercession is a testament to God’s enduring love, encouraging us to live confidently in this truth.
Seek transformative encounters: The Transfiguration invites us to seek moments of divine revelation that transform our understanding and inspire us to embody Christ’s light in the world.
Guided by Fr. Gailhac’s wisdom, this Lenten season becomes an opportunity to rise from our personal tombs through the power of love, aligning our lives more closely with the sacrificial and transformative love exemplified by Christ.
By Sr. Celine Bitega
Image Credit: Unsplash
