Second Sunday of Lent

Today is the Second Sunday in Lent. This Sunday, we are reminded to be strong, to persevere, to carry our own crosses in the knowledge that we are strengthened by Christ Himself...we are reminded that the Light and Joy of Easter is coming to all...

We are reminded in Genesis that God made a promise to Abraham, and that promise is fulfilled in Jesus. We are reminded in Matthew of the relationships between Moses, Elijah, and Jesus - and more promises fulfilled in Jesus.



In our home this week, we have been listening to the soundtrack of my old favorite, Godspell...and we have had many conversations about what is means to be a Christian, about what part "works" play in our lives, about what it truly might mean to not be Saved.

We remind ourselves that there are many who do "works" and will not be saved...and yet we are also mindful that our Faith will be known by our works... so it becomes, then, a question of always determining why am I doing this or that act...am I engaging in a project because I feel called by the Spirit to act? or because I will get positive attention for doing so? am I letting my right hand know what my left is doing? am I, like the hypocrite of the parable, shouting my prayers on the street corners for my own aggrandizement?

I am hopeful that most of the time, I act out of true compassion and love - perhaps a pale reflection of my Father's Love, but a true one all the same!

Do you have questions and doubts sometimes? I never doubt that God is my Saviour, but I admit I do sometimes wonder...me? petty, sinful me? worthy of all that?

Genesis 12:1-4
"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran."

Matthew 17:1-9
"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."

Have a blessed week!