Say Yes

Mar 5: Second Sunday of Lent

Today’s readings are all about people saying “Yes!” to God’s call. It’s not just a one-time thing, though. We’re called over and over again, and we have to continually and enthusiastically affirm that yes, we want to do and be what God wants.

Reading 1

Gn 12:1-4a

The LORD said to Abram: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.

"I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."

Abram went as the LORD directed him.

In the previous chapter of Genesis,¹ the people of Babel tried to make a name for themselves. In contrast, God promises that He will make a name for Abram. Literally, since He re-names him Abraham, but also in the sense of raising his prestige.

“All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” is ambiguously phrased in the English translation, which is intentional, since it’s ambiguous in the original Hebrew. It could mean the peoples of the world will notice (“find”) that Abraham was blessed in a special way. But it could also mean that they’ll share in his blessing, that God’s blessing for Abraham’s descendants will extend to the whole world.

Elsewhere in Genesis, the phrase is clearly meant to be the former, so some people think that must be what it means here, too. I would think the opposite—if other uses are clearly option A, then the ambiguous one is likely option B.

And, spoiler alert, we know how this story turns out: we are all blessed by a descendant of Abraham.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Abram put his trust in the Lord, and look how things turned out. You may not be the father of a great nation, but God still has a pan for you. Put your trust in Him.

Reading 2

2 Tm 1:8b-10

Beloved: Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

In a modern, capitalist society, it’s hard to hear that we can’t earn something. But we really can’t; we owe everything to God’s grace.

We can accept it, though, like Abram did. That’s our role, no matter what the play is.

Verse Before the Gospel

Cf. Mt 17:5

From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard:
This is my beloved Son, hear him.

God is telling us directly to listen to His Son. We should probably do that.

Gospel

Mt 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Yes, we read Mark’s version of the transfiguration a couple weeks ago. But it has a different connotation during Lent.

Peter, James, and John are the same three disciples who go with Jesus to Gethsemane. Here, they get a glimpse of His coming glory; later, they’ll see Him at His lowest point. They witness both His divine nature and His human frailty.

This trio holds a special place in history not because they were great kings or wise magi. They were chosen by Jesus, called by name, and they said yes.

He chose you, too. Will you say yes?

1. Gn 11:1–9, discussed a couple of weeks ago.