A New Covenant with God

Gen. 15:5-12.17-18, Phil. 3:17-4:1, Lk. 9:28-36. On this Second Sunday of Lent Year C, the Church invites us to reflect on the Transfiguration of Christ and the covenant we have with God. In Abraham's day, covenants were sometimes agreed to by preparing a sacrifice, cutting it in two pieces and halving it equally. What is interesting in today's first reading is that God is the only one shown passing between the divided animals. First, this shows the 'seriousness' in God's intention to meet the requirement of the covenant. It also shows that God did not hold us to the same stringent requirement to the covenant as He held Himself. Through this event, Abram and his descendants after him were confident of God’s special concern and faithful care.

God shows His special concern for the disciples of Christ when He showed them the glory of Heaven. The account of the Transfiguration in today's Gospel describes one moment when the disciples closest to Him had a glimpse of His true identity and the glory that is His. They got to know Him better when He was transfigured on the mountain and they saw His divinity revealed. The entire time the apostles were with Jesus they were getting to know Him better and what following Him as His apostles meant. It is the same for us when we gradually grow in our love and knowledge of Jesus and we also grow in understanding what Jesus is asking of us. Thus, Paul speaks of this gradual knowledge of Jesus in those who accept Christ in the second reading.

May this Lenten season be a turning point in our lives, the moment when we embrace the Covenant that God has made with us and transform us completely in body, mind, heart and soul, that we become God’s holy people! Amen!! Good morning and happy Sunday!!!