Sunday, February 25, 2024
46 books for the Old Testament and 27 for the New make the canon of Scripture. “Whole and entire, with all their parts, on the grounds that, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author.” (Catechism §105). In the Holy Bible, God makes Himself known to us and reveals His plan for our salvation. We see Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the New Testament and watch God’s plan of redemption unfold throughout human history. There is much symbolism in stories and events told in the New Testament, and they often have roots in the Old Testament. St. Augustine perfectly captures this by saying, ‘The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.” Narratives in this week’s Lectionary reveal this. We read of Abraham offering his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice and can easily connect that to God presenting His Son, Jesus, as atonement for our sins. We see the symbolism of high mountains in the Old and New Testaments. High mountains are the customary place for encounters with God the Father. Abraham offered Isaac on Mount Moriah, where later King Solomon built God’s temple. God appeared on Mount Sinai to give Moses the Ten Commandments. In the Transfiguration, God the Father and Spirit appeared to Jesus and His disciples on a high mountain.
Every year on the Second Sunday of Lent, the Church gives us a reading of the Transfiguration of Jesus from one of the Gospels. The Transfiguration took place before Jesus began His journey to the cross. The appearance of Moses and Elijah, along with God in the Transfiguration, represent, respectively, God’s Law and Prophets testifying to His Disciples and us that Jesus is the Son of God. “This is my beloved Son” was God’s affirmation and support for Jesus and the mission he would be embarking upon and He does the same for us. When we experience difficulties or suffering, we need to remember that God walks with us, offering grace, encouragement, and strength. St. Paul gives us assurances in today’s New Testament reading, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?” (Romans 8:31b-32). God wants to provide for our needs and to walk with us in all circumstances throughout our lives. Can you recognize His presence in the people around you? In your family, neighbors, or people at work? During this Lenten season, let us pray for Jesus to reveal Himself to us in the people around us and in the time we spend praying, listening, and meditating on His words.
“We are all called to witness and proclaim the message that “God is love”, that God isn’t far and insensitive to our human affairs. He is close to us, always beside us, walking with us to share our joys and our sorrows, our hopes and our struggles.” (Pope Francis, Angelus, June 15, 2014).
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.