Homily For The 2nd Sunday Of Lent, Year A.

 

Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33:4-5.18-22; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9.

“SHIFTING GROUNDS FOR THE KINGDOM”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·       Today, the church celebrates the second Sunday of Lent. On this day, we continue in our struggle to conquer sin and the self, so that we may be focused on God. Can we say that we are making progress on our journey with Jesus in the wilderness?

·       This season of Lent enjoins us to keep up the struggles; it is difficult, and temptations are heightened especially as the day goes by, but we must realise that the more sin grows, the more the grace of God abounds (Rom. 5:20). We should use this grace of God to fight against sin and temptation.

·       Dearly beloved in Christ, we cannot master the self, conquer the self and flee from sinful passions and inclinations to sin if we do not daily find time to be “alone”. I repeat, the Lenten season is not a time to be “lonely” or to be completely dissociated from the world, only to return with full force after the Lenten season. Rather, it is a time for “aloneness”. To be in the midst of people and yet remain self-conscious. To be in the midst of people and not be mastered by sin, but rather be mastered by the things of God.

·       The readings of today invite us to make the special sacrifice of disembarking to embark. To shift grounds, leave our familiar terrain for the sake of the kingdom of God.

·       The first reading (Genesis 12:1-4) invites us to leave our familiar terrain of sin and move to a higher ground where God is taking us, where his face can be sought and found. This movement involves many sacrifices and struggles, but they are eternally rewarding.

·       God told Abram, “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s house, for the land I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Abram left a familiar terrain for an unfamiliar one for the sake of the kingdom of God. It was a difficult decision to make, but what seemed discomforting and challenging became a source of unquantifiable blessings.

·       We, too, during this Lenten season, are called to “leave” something behind and move a step higher. We must leave our sinful and arrogant pride behind, whether in the guise of wealth, family, or friends. As long as they lead us into sin, now is the time to leave them behind and journey with God to a better place he will show us.

·       The decision to dissociate from a lifestyle or habit which we are already used to does not usually come easily, but if we do not shift ground, we may not be able to please God, and we cannot become a blessing to our generation. It wasn't until Abram moved that he acquired the new status of being a blessing to himself and his generation.

·       Dear friends in Christ, these movements come with the greatest hardship and temptations, but it is a journey to Holiness and a journey of faith.  St. Paul advised Timothy in the second reading (2 Timothy 1:8-10) that we must rely on the grace and power of God and be conscious of his abundant grace in our lives.

·       When faced with the temptation to sin, when tempted to refuse to journey with Jesus, when tempted to abandon our Lenten discipline and observances, we must realise that the grace of God has been given to us from the beginning. The grace of God is always sufficient for us.

·       In the Gospel reading (Matthew 17:1-9), Jesus shows us that he does not make prescriptions for us without teaching us how to go about it. He leads us by example so that we, too, can, in turn, follow his example.

·       Jesus, together with Peter, James, and John, left their usual familiar terrain and practice and went up the high mountain where they could be “alone”. Where they could be free from distractions and be focused on God. They did not go to where they will be “lonely” but to where they will be “alone”.

·       They were four, and yet they were alone with God, meaning that despite the hustle and bustle of this world, each of us must, amidst these, find a conducive time to be “alone” with God. It is this “aloneness” with God that reveals our level of intimacy with God.

·       When we shift grounds and make time to be “alone” with God, God reveals to us the glories of his kingdom. The confession of Peter is only a foretaste of what we stand to enjoy if we remain focused on God.

·       Dearly beloved in Christ, how can we shift ground to enjoy these glories of the kingdom of God if we do not listen to the voice of God? Today, we are reminded and commanded to listen daily and constantly to the voice of God through our preachers and the scriptures. “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased, listen to him” (Matt. 17:5).

·       Dear friends in Christ, making this journey of leaving our usual and familiar terrain is not an easy one. We are afraid of the so many things that might go wrong, things we think we will lose, but the psalmist tells us that we must obey God with blind faith, and our song daily as we make these movements should be “may your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you” (Ps. 33:22).

·       May the good Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·       Please remember to say a prayer for me as I mark my birthday this Thursday, March 5.

·       Happy Sunday!!!