2nd Sunday of Lent Year B
Listen!
O God, who have commanded us to listen to your beloved Son,
be pleased, we pray, to nourish us inwardly by your word,
that, with spiritual sight made pure, we may rejoice to behold your glory
The readings for this second Sunday in Lent invite us to listen and to trust that God will lead us in ways that are life-giving.
Abraham learns that he can trust God with the life of his precious son, even though what he is asked to do seems contrary to all God’s previous promises. His obedience and faithfulness are blessed by God (First Reading).
St. Paul reminds us that, since God gave up his only Son as his gift to us, we can be certain that he will not refuse us anything that we ask. God is on our side! We can trust him for our needs (Second Reading).
In the Gospel, we hear Jesus ask for a different kind of trust from Peter, James and John. After seeing Jesus transfigured in all his glory on the mountain top, they are asked to listen and believe in him, but to wait for the right time to speak of all they have seen and heard.
The Psalmist sings a song of rejoicing. Even when sorely afflicted, he has trusted in the Lord. Now he gives thanks for the ways in which the Lord has freed him, and becomes a joyful witness before all God’s people.
We pray for the grace to listen and to trust more fully in Jesus this Lent so that we, too, may “walk in the presence of the Lord”.
