2^nd Sunday of Lent, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Beatific Vision: Reward for listening and obeying Christ’s voice

Readings: Gen 15:5-12,17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28-36

Dear friends in Christ, through the transfiguration experience, the gospel of today showed us a glimpse of the glory of Easter and the splendor of heaven. I was thrilled by the reaction of Peter after beholding the glory of Christ and the magnificent beauty of the heavenly home. He wished to remain on that mountain forever, enjoying the sight of the glory of God; he wished the experience continued unending; he forgot his family, friends, and the rest of the disciples; all he wanted was God’s glory. But let us remember that what he saw was just a glimpse of that glory that awaits all of us. In reality, what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has imagined is what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor 2:9).

Reacting to the request of Peter to stay on the mountain forever enjoying the vision of heaven, the voice of God the Father came from the cloud and said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to Him.” That voice of the Father simply informed Peter that if he wanted to enter the glory of heaven whose glimpse he saw on the mountain, he must listen to the voice of Jesus Christ and follow His teachings.

Hence, my dear friends, listening to the voice of Jesus and doing what He commands us have become the conditions for inheriting the beautiful beatific vision that lies at the end of our earthly existence.

Every Lent, the voice of Christ, through the church, calls us to take a break from the normal activities of life and dedicate some time to prayer, fasting, and arms-giving so that our lives will be renewed and prepared for inheriting the glorious home. It is the voice that is calling us this Lent to deny ourselves some comforts and pleasures in order to share in the suffering of Christ and that of others. It is the voice that is calling us to love more, to forgive more, to say no to immoral desires. It is the voice that is calling us this Lent to say no to drunkenness, lies, gossip, pride, hatred, and other sins. In summary, this voice is calling us to the way of the cross, to take up our cross and follow Christ.

If we listen to this voice and follow its demands, if we carry our cross and follow where this voice is leading us, that glory which Peter saw on the mountain will be ours at the end of our lives. So, between us and the glory of heaven lies the demand or the duty to listen and obey the voice of Jesus.

In the first reading, God made a covenant with Abraham. In that covenant, God promised Abraham that his descendants will be like the number of the stars in the skies. But, between that wonderful promise and its fulfilment, Abraham had the task of obeying every command from God and accepting their attendant difficulties. It was obedience to God’s commands, even in the most difficult and uncertain moments, that helped Abraham to reach/inherit what God prepared for him.

Dear friends, a careful look at the covenant between Abraham and God and the actual situation of Abraham at the time of the covenant will show us the level of trust Abraham had in God. At the time of the covenant, both Abraham and his wife were already old and had no child (his wife had passed the age of childbearing), but they believed in the faithfulness of God. Of course, many people would look at Abraham’s choice of remaining faithful to God as a foolish choice, but his obedience to the voice of God paid off. Same way, Christians who trust in God, Christians who have decided to obey the voice of Jesus this Lent and to follow the recommendation of the Church for a Lenten season may appear as foolish in the eyes of men but, in reality, they will be blessed by God.

In the second reading, St. Paul informs us that there are many voices in the world whose project is to distract Christians from listening to the voice of Christ. He tells us that those who promote these contrary voices (antichristian voices) have already made themselves enemies of the cross of Christ and, therefore, they purposely teach things that are against the teachings of Jesus as the standard for our world. According to St. Paul, these people “glory in their shame, with their minds set on earthly things.” They teach people to adopt antilife policies and immoral lifestyles as the best ways to enjoy life. Their project is always to promote things that are against the Christian life. These voices are heard every day in our world. Each day, these voices want to rise higher above the calm voice of Jesus; they have misled many people.

However, my dear people, St. Paul reminds us that we are citizens of heaven. It will, therefore, be unfortunate if those who are hoping to go to heaven are obeying the voices that contradict the teachings that come from heaven. Those who hope to enjoy the beautiful home of heaven, that home which Peter saw on the mountain, should listen to the voice of Jesus who has come down from heaven and obey it; this is our task this Lent. Let us pray to listen obediently to the voice of Jesus and to shun all voices that contradict the teachings of Jesus.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 

Thursday of 2^nd Week of Easter: (memorial of St. Stanislaus – Bishop & Martyr)

THEME: WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN

Acts 5:27-33

The daily readings continue to show us how Christ's resurrection has transformed the lives and actions of his disciples. It is a power that raised soldiers of the faith in Christ from men who were first hesitant to identify as Christ's disciples. What a power.

In today’s first reading, Peter courageously told the high priests, who wanted to stop the apostles from preaching in Christ’s name, that the first person to whom Christians owe allegiance and obedience is God, not man. He said to them: “We must obey God rather than men.” What a courageous response.

By this response, Peter has revealed what should be the attitude and response of all Christians in the face of intimidations, or laws, rules and directions that contradict God’s commandments and the teachings of Christ, as well as in the face of temptations or desires that go against God’s teachings.  

Ours is a world where people are forced to accept practices, teachings, jobs and ideologies that contradict moral values and faith in God if they want to put food on their table. Many people have lost their jobs or promotions, friends or have been outrightly denied opportunities to work or receive assistance because of their resolve to obey God first in everything. Tragically, some of these ill-treatments are frequently perpetrated by people who identify as Christians.

Peter encourages persecuted Christians never to relent in their resolve to put God and his teachings first in everything they do and, then, reminds those who call themselves Christians yet accept and obey laws and practices that go against God’s commands that anyone who sets God and His commandments aside cannot really be called Christian.

Aware the One to whom he owes first allegiance and obedience, St Stanislaus courageously stood against the orders of king Boleslaus II and refused to give in to evil demands, even in the face of cruel death in the hands of the king while he was celebrating Mass.

May God fill you with courage to resist evil and all its demands as you embark on the activities of this Thursday. Amen.  

Fr Isaac Chima