2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C, 16.03.2025

 Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 / Philippians 3:17 – 4:1 / Luke 9:28-36 

There are quite a few occasions that occur annually. 

We will surely know what they are because it usually comes with a public holiday. 

So, that will be New Year's day, Chinese New Year (and that's two public holidays), Hari Raya Puasa (and that is coming up soon), etc. 

We can't miss those occasions because it will come with a public holiday, and we like holidays because we don't have to go to school or to work. 

But other than those public occasions, there are also personal occasions that come about annually. 

So, there are birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Whether we celebrate those occasions or not, we will still remember those dates because those are our personal dates. 

But it might be a bit more difficult to remember other people's dates, like the birthday of the spouse, and that can mean some trouble. 

Or, the date of the wedding anniversary, and that can be quite embarrassing, especially when obvious hints are given. 

Today's Gospel is also known as the gospel of the Transfiguration. 

And we may also notice that every year on the 2nd Sunday of Lent, the Gospel reading is about the Transfiguration. 

Adding on to that, the Feast of the Transfiguration is also celebrated on the 6th of August in the Church calendar. 

That is telling us something, and that is, the Transfiguration is an important event in the life of Jesus. 

On that mountain, the glory of Jesus was revealed, that He is the beloved Son of God. 

The presence of Moses and Elijah witnessed to Jesus, that He is the Divine Law Giver and the Prophetic Voice of God. 

As for the disciples, Peter, James and John, they were overwhelmed with awe. 

Peter said something about building three tents, but he actually didn't know what he was saying. 

But whatever it is, the Transfiguration of Jesus on that mountain was an experience and an encounter that was seared deep into the hearts of the disciples. 

They didn't talk about it then, but later on, they will speak about it as it was an occasion that pointed to Jesus as the Divine Son of God. 

So, why is the Transfiguration being mentioned during the season of Lent and again in August. 

Well, for the RCIA Elect, the season of Lent is the period of their final preparation for baptism at Easter.

This Sunday’s Gospel of the Transfiguration leads them to reflect on how the Lord Jesus has revealed Himself to them in their faith journey. 

There was a sharing by one of the Elect which is rather amusing and amazing. 

In her childhood days, one of her Catholic relatives brought her to a Catholic Church, but only for a few occasions, and that is to pray for the exams. 

That was her first encounter with the Catholic Church. Later on, she got married and she didn't think much about God or about going to Church. 

And then her husband injured his back and was bedridden for a few months. 

She was so stressed as there was no cure despite having treatment after treatment. 

One morning, when she was about to go marketing, one of her friends called her up. She shared with that friend about her husband's condition, and that friend told her to pray to Jesus. 

She asked her friend how to pray, and that friend told her to look up at the sky and say: Jesus, please help me, please cure my husband. 

Well, she did that, she looked up in the sky, and said: Jesus, please help me, please cure my husband.

And then she carried on with her marketing. That very afternoon, when she was preparing dinner, she thought that she saw her husband walking slowly from the bedroom to the toilet. 

She was very surprised and amazed, and her husband slowly recovered and was able to walk. 

But what was even more surprising was that, when asked who was that friend who told her to look at the sky to pray to Jesus, she couldn't remember.

How could she not remember who it is? 

But in life, there are many experiences and encounters that are beyond explanation. 

We can call it a mystery, but that is how God reveals Himself to us, just like how Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples in the Transfiguration. 

On this second Sunday of Lent, we and the RCIA Elect are led to reflect and recall how God has revealed Himself to us.

It may not be a spectacular experience or a dramatic encounter. 

But certainly, God is speaking to us through Jesus His Son.

May we listen, may we believe, and may our faith be strengthened.

1st Week of Lent, Saturday, 15-03-2025

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 / Matthew 8:43-48  

There are two life-long processes that shapes and forms us.

One is the growing process, and this would usually be the physical.

The other is the learning process, and this would be usually be the intellectual.

So, life is a continual growing and learning process.

In order to grow well and be strong physically, it would mean that we have a proper diet and eat well.

In order to be grow intellectually, we would need to be taught well and have a good upbringing.

In the 1st reading, Moses reminded the people that they have received the teachings from the Lord God in the form of Commandments.

And when they obey the Lord’s teaching, then He will declare that they are His people, a consecrated nation above all other nations.

But along the way, the Lord’s teaching was distorted and misinterpreted, and the people also came out with their own teaching for their own advantage.

So, in the gospel, Jesus brought back the origins of the divine teachings that was handed to the people.

All in all, Jesus teaches us that we are to be perfect, just as the heavenly Father is perfect.

When we understand that we are called to be like God, then we will want to learn to be like God and grow to be the love expressions of God to others.

1st Week of Lent, Friday, 14-03-2025

Ezekiel 18:21-28 / Matthew 5:20-26  

The difference between obedience and defiance is in that thin blurry line.

When it is to human authority and instructions, we can oscillate between obedience and defiance.

Because as human beings, we are fickle and it depends on how the instructions suit us.

So if we are agreeable and it is convenient to us, we will obey or accept it.

Otherwise we will disregard or defy it. But we must be prepared to accept the consequence of our defiance.

In the 1st reading, what is presented to us is the repentance of a wicked person, as well as the renouncement of an upright man.

While the repentance of a wicked person has its rewards, the renouncement of an upright person deserves punishment.

But in the gospel, Jesus tells us that if our virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and the Pharisees, then we will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

So, when it comes to God’s Commandments, there should be no question about our obedience.

Because when we disobey or defy God’s Commandments, then we are asking for punishment.

But why do we want to disobey or defy and get punished when we just have to obey and receive blessings.

Let us ask the Lord to deepen our virtue so that we will obey His Commandments and live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and be blessed with His love and peace.

1st Week of Lent, Thursday, 13-03-2025

Esther 4:17 / Matthew 7:7-12  

When it comes to protection, we want the best and nothing less.

So, when it comes to the anti-virus for our computers, we want the best anti-virus, the best and nothing less.

Because if we want something to protect us, we won’t settle for anything less, we want the best.

And if we want somebody to protect us, then we want someone who is strong and able to protect us.

We want someone who is reliable and will always be there for us.

In the 1st reading, queen Esther found herself in a mortal peril that has overtaken her.

She was going to lose her life and there is no one who could save her.

Yes, no one could save her, until she remembered that she had been taught from her earliest years about the Lord God who saved her people.

Her prayer is this: My Lord, our King, the one, come to my help, for I am alone and have no helper but you.

And the Lord answered her prayer and saved her as well as her people, and revealed His power and might in their time of distress.

In the gospel, Jesus taught us to ask and it will be given, search and we will find, knock and the door will be opened for us.

So, to the Lord our God, our protector and Saviour, let us ask, let us seek the Lord and knock on His door of mercy.

Whether in distress or in our difficulties, let us turn to the Lord our God and He will reveal to us His saving power.

1st Week of Lent, Wednesday, 12-03-2025

Jonah 3:1-10 / Luke 11:29-32   

Our human ability to understand and comprehend what is around us is usually through our five senses.

Then our intelligence will discern and judge what our situation is and what we need to do.

But of course, we want the process of understanding and comprehending, as well as discerning and judging to be quick.

We want things moving and done, as we don’t want to waste too much time thinking and thinking.

So we want things to be clear and obvious, and we don’t want to look and search for information and details.

But very often, the very thing that we are looking for is that thing that we overlook and don’t think much about it or even reject it.

In the gospel, the people seems to be looking for signs, signs that are dramatic and spectacular, signs that are loud and big.

But Jesus made them look at the signs that were already there: the sign of Jonah and the Ninevites, and the sign of king Solomon and the Queen of the South.

The sign of Jonah and the Ninevites is an obvious sign of the mercy and compassion of God for a people who are repentant.

That is also the sign of God’s love, mercy and compassion for us in this season of Lent.

There is no need for more signs. Rather let us repent with prayer, penance and almsgiving.

1st Week of Lent, Tuesday, 11-03-2025

Isaiah 55:10-11 / Matthew 6:7-15  

The season of Lent is a time of renewal, a spring-time of our faith.

It may also entail some spring-cleaning of our souls.

That is why the season of Lent has a penitential character.

We reinforce our prayer so that we can deepen our faith and relationship with God.

We do penance and give alms so that we detach from our possessions and turn away what leads us to sin.

In all that, we go back to the basics of our faith, to the basics of what we believe in and to the basics of how to live it out in our lives.

The 1st reading tells of a rather basic process of nature, and that is, the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, and giving growth.

So too the Word of God does not return empty without carrying out the will of God and fulfilling it.

And the Word of God in the gospel teaches us the basic prayer of the “Our Father”.

As we pray that prayer, may we also carry out the will of God and fulfill the plans of God in our lives.

1st Week of Lent, Monday, 10-03-2025

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 / Matthew 15:31-46  

One of the early Church Fathers, St Irenaeus (130 – 202 AD) was quoted as saying this: "The glory of God is man fully alive."

Mankind is made in the image of God, and mankind reflects the goodness and the love of God.

But sin has disfigured and distorted the image of God that man is created in.

And when sin continues to manifest, then mankind becomes more and more ugly and wicked.

But that is because mankind has forgotten what goodness and love is about.

In the 1st reading, God instructs Moses to declare to the people that they are to be holy, just as God Himself is holy.

So, to be human and to be fully alive is to be like God, to be holy, to do good and to be loving.

In the gospel, Jesus tells a parable that expresses what being human is about.

It is as fundamental and essential as sharing food and drink with those who are hungry and thirsty, to welcome the stranger, to care for the sick, to visit those who are neglected and forgotten.

In other words, to be human is to share the goodness and love of God with those in need.

That is the core of being human. When we express that core human goodness and love, then we have become truly alive.