Homily of the Second Sunday of Lent
By Fr Oluwafemi Victor Orilua CSSp
Genesis 12:1-4a, 2Tim 1:8b-10, Mathew 7;1-9
To live an authentic Christian life, we must be respecters of process. Our life in Christ is not a mere moment of bliss but a journey of pain and gain, cross and crown, sorrow and joy, death, and resurrection.
Understanding both sides of our daily walk with God helps us to gain mastery over the unexpected events in our lives. It equally helps to process those moments of excitement which if not well managed, can stunt our growth in the Spirit.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the mountain where He was transfigured in their presence. The beauty of the moment fascinated them that Peter spontaneously exclaimed” Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” His attention was focused solely on the glimpse of heavenly glory which he saw and not on the road that leads there.
Oftentimes, we admire beauty without asking for its cost. We love good things, forgetting that nothing good comes easy. However, the most important thing that matters in our lives was what followed, when a voice spoke from a bright cloud that overshadowed them, saying, “this is my beloved Son, with whom I’m well pleased, listen to him.”
Listening to Jesus is the only key that leads to the glory that he has prepared for those who would share in His life. The vision of His glory, which at times, we experience in the context of our communion with Him, only serves to assure us of His continuous presence and an assurance of the bliss that comes with our shared life with Him.
The Lord instructed the disciples as they were coming down from the mountain, ” Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.”
While they desired to remain there on the mountain, Jesus reminded them of His imminent suffering and death, which must pave the way for the envisioned glory.
We must not be carried away by a moment of ease or comfort. Life experiences are like two sides of a coin. The presence of Moses and Elijah in the vision attested that it was the time to embrace the cross as written in the law and the prophets. So, let’s pray that we are able to know the decisive moments in our lives.
As we journey with Jesus, may we fully understand the low and high moments that come with His service. May we always be ready to listen to His words and be perfect examples of those who truly know the essence of the salvation He has bought for us. Amen.
