HOMILY FOR SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR B. 28.02.2021.

The Sacrifice of Christ

Readings: Genesis 22:1-2.9.10-13,15-18; Psalm 116; Romans 8:31-34 and Mark 9:2-10. 

WHY DO WE REFLECT ON CHRIST’S TRANSFIGURATION EVERY SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT?

The liturgy of today reveals to us the identity of Christ as it centers on his transfiguration on Mount Tabor and the call to listen to him.  The transfiguration gives us a glimpse of the reward that comes after every cross and it gives us courage to forge ahead, despite the difficulties and challenges of life. The transfiguration provides us answers to innumerable questions about our faith in Christ, gives us a clue of eschatology, that is, what we shall become later, it confirms the reality of heaven and the reward for the just, in the sense that all our fasting, prayers, penance, almsgiving and self-denial during this period of lent shall never go unrewarded.

 

Before the transfiguration event, we remember the Evangelist Mark has his style of writing. Mark presents Christ as a teacher and healer. As a teacher, there was a moment Christ wanted to know how far his students (disciples) have understood him and his mission on earth, having taught them for three years in his institute. Christ set an exam of two questions for them. First, he asked, “Who do people say I am?” Their responses reflects in today’s Gospel. Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah or one of the prophets (Mark 8:27-30). These answers were not so clear on the identity of Christ and he asked the second question, “You, who do you say I am?” It was Peter who gave a correct answer of the identity of Christ, but with the Jewish understanding of the messiah, a messiah that will be a conqueror, who will neither end in agony on the cross, nor to suffer. This was the picture of the messiah Peter and the Jewish people had.

 

With the above exam for his disciples, Christ realized his mission was at stake and must let them know his type of messiah, the messiah that must go to Jerusalem to suffer, which is contrary to their general belief of the messiah. This became the hardest truth to them, the choice of following Christ and the cost of discipleship, to deny oneself, take up one’s cross and follow Christ. As typical Jews who believed in the theology of retribution, they have no idea of the reward of following Christ, they were not so sure if any reward was attached to the cross of Christ. It was because of their doubt that Christ took with him Peter, James and John to have a glimpse of the reward of their sufferings. To clear the doubt of the disciples that the messiah has to suffer, Elijah and Moses had to appear to them, with the voice of God himself affirming, “Listen to him,” to listen to all the Son has been saying to them, that Christ is the messiah that must go to the cross to save his people. He is the new Isaac to be sacrificed.

 

The Sacrifice of Abraham

Interestingly in the transfiguration of Christ, there are lessons attached to it. First is that Christ is the Son of God. Secondly, good things do not come easily, so there is need for hard work and thirdly, there must be Good Friday before Easter Sunday. Invariably, no cross, no crown. In view of this, we see in the first reading that even Abraham, our father in faith had his own cross before his crown. He was childless until his old age and the Lord blessed him with Isaac. His only beloved son was required to be sacrificed, it wasn’t a thing of joy for him, but he remained faithful and obedient to the Lord. He did not hesitate to offer up Isaac as an offering to the Lord, which was a prefiguration on how God did not hesitate to offer his beloved Son to save us through the cross. God made provision of a lamb for the burnt offering so that Isaac, who later became Israel will live. He provided a sacrificial lamb so that his people Israel will live. This sacrificial lamb of Abraham is Christocentric, in the sense that it is centered or relates to the person of Christ. Christ who later passed through the wood of sacrifice represented by the cross made of wood so that we may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).

 

In connection with the above, the second reading affirms that God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all. Equally similar to Abraham who had no intention to spare Isaac his son. Hence, the place of the cross is central in our salvation and as heaven remains a gift for all, we must purchase it with the price of the cross. Let us not reject the cross like Peter who wanted to build his tent only in the glorious life of Christ, but examine ourselves during this season of lent to see if our Christianity is the type without cross or if we carry our crosses alone or implore Christ to carry it with us. In view of this, I will invite you to solemnly sing the hymn of the old rugged cross, written by George Bennard in 1912:

 

“On the hill far away, stood the old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame, and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till life’s trophies at last I lay down, I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.” Peace be with you!

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ