2nd Sunday of Lent
1st March 2026
Lectionary Readings: Gen 12:1-4a; Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Tim 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9
Theme: Lenten Journey of Transformation & Transfiguration
The first 75 years of Abram’s life are passed over in total silence. He still bears the name Abram when God’s call comes. The story of Abram begins abruptly, with a call from God to leave all for a land “that I will show you.” The patriarch’s immediate response thrusts him onto the scene of
history with astounding suddenness and marks the true beginning of his life. At the beginning of the story his name is Abram and his wife’s name is Sarai; only later (Gen. 17:16) are they changed to Abraham and Sarah. We are not told directly why this couple is a worthy choice. The tradition, as usual, seeks to fill the gap, portraying Abraham as the first person to realize that the world is ruled by one God who demands righteous behaviour of humanity. Abraham’s descendants have been marked by a willingness to stand apart from conventional thinking. We note that his wanderings in Canaan were later repeated by his descendants. This led Rabbi Ramban to comment that Abraham’s wanderings foreshadowed those of later generations. Not destination, but the journey itself is God’s will. Abraham wandered not only with his feet but with his mind.
A midrash pictures Abraham coming across a palace with all of its windows illuminated and musing to himself, “Is it possible that there is no lord of this palace?” At that moment, God appears and proclaims, “I am the lord of this palace!” (Gen. R. 39:1). Another midrash portrays Abraham’s father Terah as a manufacturer of idols. One night, Abraham smashed all his father’s idols. The next morning his father, incensed, demanded to know who had destroyed his property. “They attacked each other,” Abraham told him. “That’s impossible!” cried Terah. “They are made of stone. There is no soul or spirit in them.” “Then why do you worship them?” Abraham challenged him (Gen. R. 38:13).
God’s first words to Abraham, translated as “Go forth” [lekh l’kha], literally means, “go yourself.” A midrash interprets this to mean, “Go forth to find your authentic self, to learn who you are meant to be.” Physically we leave our home first, then our neighbourhood, and finally our country. “For the first time, a journey is undertaken, not as an act of exile (Adam, Cain) or a quest for domination (the generation of Babel) but as a response to a divine imperative” (Zornberg). The midrash plays on the Hebrew and reads, “the land wherein I will appear to you.” God cannot be found as readily in the opulent surroundings of Haran as in the pasture lands of Canaan (Mid. HaGadol).
It is interesting to note that to be a blessing is not a promise but a command. To merit the promised reward, one must so live as to be a blessing to the world. Lest Abraham be intimidated by God’s summons, God reassures him this his admirers will be many and his detractors few. Why would anyone curse or hate Abraham, who is setting out to serve God and be a blessing to all humanity? There always have been individuals and societies that resent God’s strenuous moral demands and direct their resentment toward those who strive to live up to them.
As usual, on the 2nd Sunday of Lent we have the Gospel narrative of the Transfiguration of Our Lord on Mount Tabor. In the Bible the top of a mountain is considered a natural place for a God-encounter. Thus it was atop Mount Sinai that the Ten Commandments were given. Jesus gave his first teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. He often retired to the mountain at night to pray. He was crucified on Mount Calvary and ascended to Heaven from Mount Olivet. Witnessing the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor was a very special grace for Peter, James and John, who were privileged to have got a preview of the glory of Jesus risen from the dead and his glory in Heaven. However, prior to the incident, Jesus had told them that he must suffer greatly, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, be killed and rise after three days. Peter hadn’t liked the idea and let it be known to Jesus; for this he was rebuked (Mt. 16:21-23). Here, after having witnessed the glorious scene, Peter wants the Lord (and himself, too) to stay back on the mountain. Peter knew what troubles awaited Jesus down there in the city. In the Eucharist we celebrate our encounter with Jesus in a special manner. Being in a Church is a beautiful experience but we need to get back to the reality of our lives – with all its anxieties and perplexities, all its worries and joys.
For Reflection and Discussion: God calls us out of our comfort zone to relish a life of grace and peace.
- How are Abraham’s descendants marked by a willingness to stand apart from conventional thinking.
- “Go forth to find your authentic self, to learn who you are meant to be.” How do I handle the positive and negative experiences during my journey of faith? 3. God cannot be found as readily in the opulent surroundings of Haran as in the pasture lands of Canaan. Discuss with relevance to today’s situations.
Bibliography:Etz Hayim, Torah and Commentary (New York, 2001); God’s Word, Daily Reflections; Brother Jack Driscoll’s Mimeographed class notes from Bat Kol Jerusalem study sessions.
This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Roy da Silva, MTh [Biblical Theology],
Chandigarh, India. Bat Kol alumnus, 2002 – 2006, 2015
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