Mar 17 2019 Reflection
Sunday 17 March 2019
First Reading: GN 15:5-12, 17-18
Responsorial Psalm:
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
PS 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14
Second Reading: PHIL 3:17—4:1
Gospel Reading: LK 9:28B-36
Today’s Note: Second Sunday of Lent
Gospel Reading:
Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.
Reflection:
Look up. (Genesis 15:5)
All three readings today urge us to do one thing: fix our eyes on heaven. In the first reading, God told Abraham to look at the night sky. “Count the stars, if you can. Just so . . . shall your descendants be,” he promised (Genesis 15:5). Abraham, who was already advanced in years and childless, would somehow become the father of many nations.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven” and not in this world (Philippians 3:20). He tells us that we belong there, and that we should keep that truth in mind so that we can “stand firm in the Lord” (4:1).
And in the Gospel, Jesus gives Peter, James, and John a vision of his heavenly glory. He knew he was headed for the cross and that his death would shake them to the core. So he gave them this vision to strengthen their faith and encourage them, even as they saw him arrested, tortured, and killed.
Jesus wants us to fix our eyes on heaven as well. He wants us to focus on his glory and his promises as we pray each morning. He knows that if we do, we’ll give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to write these promises on our hearts. We’ll let the Spirit show us Jesus’ love and mercy so that we can stay close to him during the day.
Here are some key promises you can fix your eyes on. First, God promises to keep his covenant with you, just as he kept his covenant with Abraham. Second, Jesus promises that your citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). You belong to him! And third, the Holy Spirit promises that if you fix your eyes on Jesus in prayer every day, you’ll begin to see him more clearly, just as the apostles caught a glimpse of him at his transfiguration.
Choose one of these promises today, and dwell on it. Repeat it over and over. Fix your heart on the way it reveals God’s love for you. Look up to heaven, and let your heart be filled with all its goodness and grace!
“Jesus, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you today.”
