SECOND
SUNDAY OF LENT – A - 2023
v On the First
Sunday of Lent we contemplated Jesus tempted , and at the same time how he
affirms the dominion of God over all, we shall submit only to Him.
v Next Sunday we
will have a glance to the glory of Jesus, the Son the beloved, whom we have to listen to.
v THE BOOK OF GENESIS
« In the Liturgy of
the First Sunday of Lent, the first Reading was taken from the 2nd and 3rd
chapters of the Book of Genesis.
« The first 11
chapters of the book of Genesis are not historical, they did not happened in
the way they are narrated.
« However they are
also historical in the sense that they try to explain the process of creation,
the reality of sin and temptation.
« Using a symbolic
language full of images they transmit to us a theological reflection on these
realities.
« In the liturgy of
the Second Sunday of Lent, the first reading is taken from chapter 12 of
Genesis.
o
From chapter 12 on there is a change in perspective in the book of
Genesis
o
The first 11 chapters show us the work of God, who gives without
measure and looks for men and women over and over again.
o
At the same time these chapters also tell us how men and women
respond to the generosity of God by sinning and following the temptation of
Paradise “you will be like gods”. Men and women turn away from God, their
creator, to follow their own ways of sin and corruption.
o In chapter 12 God
intervenes again, doing something new. Like in creation when God called man to
existence now he calls another man Abram. This man will accept the call and
will obey the God of the Mountain, as he calls Him, “El Shaddai” אל שדי. The God of the patriarchs, which is the
same God of Moses YHWH, the only God. The translation of El Shaddai is God Almighty.
o
With Abram a new chapter begins in
human history in its relationship with its creator.
FIRST READING Gn
12, 1-4
o
The Lord tells Abram to leave the land of his kinsfolk and from
his father’s house to a land that the Lord will show him.
§ He is asked to
leave without knowing the destination, with the sole trust in the word of the
God who spoke to him from the mountain
o
God makes 7 promises to Abram
§ I will make of
you a great nation
§ I will bless
you
§ I will make your
name great
§ So that you will
be a blessing
§ I will bless
those who bless you
§ I will curse
those who curse you
§ All the
communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.
o
Abram leaves as God has asked him
§ His reaction to
the word of God is completely different from that of the first fathers: Adam
and Eve, the people of Noah’s time, the people of the tower of Babel. These did
not obey the word of God, Abram goes forth as God has told him, he does not
know where, but he trusts the word of the Lord God Almighty
§ Thus he will be a
blessing and not a curse as our first fathers were.
§ A new adventure
begins for the human race.
SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY
Ø The letters to
Timothy are considered “deutero-paulines”. The name deutero is given to a group
of letters which scholars think have not been written by Paul but by some of
his disciples. The letters written by Paul are called Proto-Paulines.
Ø The Letter to
Timothy seems to have been written after the death of Paul.
Ø These letters
belong also to the group of letters
called Pastoral letters, which are addressed to Bishops: Titus and Timothy who
had been collaborators of Paul in his ministry.
« God has called us
also to a life of holiness. Holiness is to live our life according to the will
of God.
« We have seen the answer of Abram to the call of God.
« We have been
called to a life of holiness in Christ Jesus.
« The Father has
called us to this holiness of life before the creation of the world.
« Christ has
brought us salvation and immortality by
despoiling death of its power.
GOSPEL Mt. 17,1-9
I will copy below two paragraphs from the Apostolic
Exhortation of John Paul II Vita Consecrata.
In the countenance of Jesus, the "image of the invisible God” and the reflection of the Father's glory, we glimpse the depths of an eternal and infinite love which is at the very root of our being. Those who let themselves be seized by this love cannot help abandoning everything to follow him. Like Saint Paul, they consider all else as loss "because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ", by comparison with which they do not hesitate to count all things as "refuse", in order that they "may gain Christ". They strive to become one with him, taking on his mind and his way of life. This leaving of everything and following the Lord is a worthy programme of life for all whom he calls, in every age (18)
A whole ancient
spiritual tradition refers to this "icon" when it links the
contemplative life to the prayer of Jesus.
Even the "active" dimensions of consecrated life can in a way
be included here, for the Transfiguration is not only the revelation of
Christ's glory but also a preparation for facing Christ's Cross. It involves
both "going up the mountain" and "coming down the
mountain". The disciples who have
enjoyed this intimacy with the Master, surrounded for a moment by the splendor
of the Trinitarian life and of the communion of saints, and as it were caught
up in the horizon of eternity, are immediately brought back to daily reality,
where they see "Jesus only", in the lowliness of his human nature,
and are invited to return to the valley, to share with him the toil of God's
plan and to set off courageously on the way of the Cross.(14)
CLARETIAN CORNER
. “The Principal aim of the religious
of this order is to work with all diligence in the Lord, in keeping God’s lawn, and the utmost fulfilment of the evangelical
counsels, and, in imitation of the Holy Apostles to work until death in
teaching every creature the holy Law of the Lord.
Our form and manner of life:
- requires that all those persons who
wish to be enrolled be crucified to
all the things of the world.
- our Institute also requires daughters
stripped of all their disordinate affections and passions, so that they can follow the footsteps of
Christ our highest good.
- requires them to die to themselves, so
that they live only for justice and holiness, and that they should earnestly strive to be faithful
servants of our great God, as Saint Paul says:
• in vigils, fasting and labor;
• in chastity, knowledge and kindness;
• in prudence and joy in the Holy
Spirit;
• in sincere love;
• in truthful words.
-
and as they journey to their heavenly homeland, they strive to
teach and to make the same path easy for others
with the arm of justice and example on the right hand and on the left,
• whether honored or dishonored,
• whether in adversity or prosperity,
- seeking in everything and through
everything:
• the
conversion of all consecrated persons to the service of God.
• and the conversion of the whole world.
- for the greater glory of God and of His
most holy Mother ”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
PARIS, MARIA ANTONIA, Constitutions
JOHN PAUL II. Vita Consecrata. 1996.
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