{"id":1448,"date":"2024-02-26T10:19:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-26T15:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/?page_id=1448"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:00:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:00:29","slug":"the-second-sunday-of-lent-year-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/02\/26\/the-second-sunday-of-lent-year-b\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2014The Second Sunday of Lent &#8211; Year B"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1448\" class=\"elementor elementor-1448\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b8d22d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"90077\" data-id=\"b8d22d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99f195b\" data-eae-slider=\"1471\" data-id=\"99f195b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c77524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c77524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Second Sunday of Lent - Year B<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ae08b9c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"69307\" data-id=\"ae08b9c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e7e9d5a\" data-eae-slider=\"36002\" data-id=\"e7e9d5a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21da595 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"21da595\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cdfd58a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cdfd58a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading I<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13030d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13030d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/genesis\/22?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, &#8220;Abraham!&#8221;<br \/>&#8220;Here I am!&#8221; he replied. Then God said: &#8220;Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.&#8221;<\/p><p>When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.<br \/>Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the LORD&#8217;s messenger called to him from heaven, &#8220;Abraham, Abraham!&#8221; &#8220;Here I am!&#8221; he answered. &#8220;Do not lay your hand on the boy,&#8221; said the messenger. &#8220;Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.&#8221; As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.<\/p><p>Again the LORD&#8217;s messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: &#8220;I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing\u2014all this because you obeyed my command.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06c548b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"06c548b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Responsorial Psalm<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c5bce9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c5bce9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/116?10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/><em><strong>R. (116:9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>I believed, even when I said, &#8220;I am greatly afflicted.&#8221; Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.<br \/><em><strong>R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.<br \/><em><strong>R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem.<br \/><em><strong>R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bed9cb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bed9cb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading II<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-140083e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"140083e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/romans\/8?31\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Rom 8:31b-34<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Brothers and sisters: 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?<br \/>Who will bring a charge against God&#8217;s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us, who will condemn? Christ Jesus it is who died\u2014or, rather, was raised\u2014who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a20c52a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a20c52a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Verse Before the Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99d70c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"99d70c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/17?5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Cf. Mt 17:5<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>From the shining cloud the Father&#8217;s voice is heard:<br \/>This is my beloved Son, listen to him<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f796ad1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f796ad1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77f670b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77f670b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/9?2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mk 9:2-10<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, &#8220;Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.&#8221; He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, &#8220;This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.&#8221; Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.<\/p><p>As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15e9fbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"15e9fbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Exegesis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45a4f5c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"45a4f5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/genesis\/22?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>When a lectionary text is broken into select versus, I find it helpful to look at the entire biblical text. I find that in this case the following verses are particularly significant and gut wrenching: \u201cAbraham took the wood for the holocaust and laid it on his son Isaac\u2019s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham: \u2018Father!\u2019 he said, \u201cHere are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the holocaust.?\u201d \u2018Son,\u2019 Abraham answered, \u2018God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust.\u201d\u2019 (Gn 22: 7-8)<\/p><p>I find the parallel with the Crucifixion of Jesus to be striking, i.e. the call to sacrifice his only son, the carrying of the wood on his shoulders, and the fact that God Himself will provide the lamb. Could Mount Moria be the Hill of Calvary? Moria appears again in 2 Chronicles. It is in Jerusalem, and in particular the location where the temple was later built. \u201cAND Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, in mount Moria, which had been shewn to David his father, in the place which David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And he began to build in the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.\u201d (2 Ch 3:1-2) Whether the location is the location where the temple would be later built and holocaust offered or the adjacent Hill of Calvary, it is a profound foreshadowing of the Cross of Jesus.<\/p><p>Abraham is our father in faith. What incredible faith he must have had to offer his only son. It required a profound trust in God.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28ca9ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"28ca9ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/116?10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Psalm 116 is referred to as a thanksgiving Psalm. In most bibles it is entitled Thanksgiving to God who saves from death. Verse 10 supports the faith of Abraham, i.e. \u201cI kept faith, even when I said, \u201cI am greatly afflicted.\u201d Delivered from death the psalmist proclaims, \u201cI will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.\u201d (Ps 116: 17)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e3f398 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8e3f398\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/romans\/8?31\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Rom 8:31b-34<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>How can an all-loving God, who is Love itself, allow His only Son to die on the Cross? This is the question that Christians have struggled with over the centuries. How could a God of Love ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son. The bond of love makes two as one. In true authentic love it is more difficult to watch a loved one suffer than to suffer oneself. On the Cross we can make no distinction between the Father and Son, or for that matter the mother looking on. It is love on display for all to see. Could it be any other way?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce42c18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce42c18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/9?2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mk 9:2-10<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>As in all scripture passages it is important to look at the setting. Just prior to this event that we call the Transfiguration Jesus informed His disciples for the first time of His coming Passion and death, followed by the conditions of discipleship, i.e. dying to self in love.<\/p><p>Now after six days, so on the seventh day, the day of the Lord, Jesus takes his first disciples, Peter, James and John up the mountain. The mountain is a place of theophany. The mountain is place to encounter God, e.g. Mt. Moriah, Mt. Sinai, Jerusalem. Some have called this a Christophany, where the true eternal Jesus is revealed in all His glory.<\/p><p>Jesus is transfigured before them. The word transfigured come from the Latin translation transfiguratus est. In the original Greek the verb is metamorphothe, which implies a change of form. The term is used in Phil. 2:6-11, \u201cwho being in the form (morphe) of God.\u201d1 So Jesus was seen in a form beyond that of human. The light flowed out from within Him such that His garments became gleaming as no fuller on earth could achieve.<\/p><p>Moses and Elijah are present representing the Law and the Prophets respectively. Perhaps more significantly these are men that have been dead for hundreds of years and yet there they are conversing with Jesus. It is a glimpse into eternity.<\/p><p>The voice of God comes from the cloud, again a common theme in a theophany. In Exodus 40:34-38 a cloud covers the tent of meeting, which is filled with the glory of the Lord. At the dedication of Solomon\u2019s Temple in Jerusalem a cloud filled the house of the Lord (1 Kgs 8:10-11).2 The voice like the voice of God at the Baptism of Jesus, announces My Beloved Son. At the baptism the voice is directed at Jesus, i.e. \u201cYou are My Beloved Son.\u201d In the transfiguration scene voice of God is now directed to the disciples and to us, \u201cThis is My Beloved Son. Listen to Him.\u201d This little nuance leads me to believe that this theophany was meant for us. God wants us to know what lies ahead. Jesus talked often of the Kingdom of God that is already fulfilled and waits for us and the Kingdom of God here and now still evolving.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bd90c1 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7bd90c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee3f2d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee3f2d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>1. Sacra Pagina, The Gospel of Mark, Donahue &#8211; Harrington, M.G. page 269.<br \/>2. Sacra Pagina, The Gospel of Mark, Donahue &#8211; Harrington, M.G. page 270.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81ab6b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"81ab6b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflection<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fab7ca3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fab7ca3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Referring to the current state of our society someone once said, \u201cWe are like a people on a journey who have forgotten where we are going.\u201d As I look at our society, I see that very clearly. We tend to be listless, and we easily follow the latest trend. Perhaps it is part of the human condition. Dante wrote centuries ago that life is like waking up in the middle of a forest and not knowing which direction to go or like coming to a fork in the road and not knowing which path to take.<\/p><p>This weekend\u2019s Gospel is Mark\u2019s rendition of the Transfiguration of Jesus. If you look at the setting in the Gospel, Jesus has just told His disciples for the first time that He was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die and be raised after three days. The disciples were in a state of shock and full of fear and anxiety. Then Jesus takes Peter, James and John up the mountain and He is transfigured before them. Moses and Elijah are there with Him. The risen Lord is there in His transfigured glorified body. Moses and Elijah are alive and recognizable as well. The voice of God is heard, \u201cThis is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.\u201d Jesus and His closest disciples get a glimpse of eternity, of the great beyond. The ultimate destination becomes visible. They see where they are headed.<\/p><p>Peter wants to hold on to the moment. He wants to build three tents for them to stay in the experience. He wants to bond with eternity. Jesus has other plans at the moment. He leads them down the mountain. Even though Easter is before them, Good Friday is in His path. He must come down the mountain. There can be no resurrection without the Cross. It is for this hour that He came. Jesus needs to accomplish the task at hand, but now the ultimate destination is in sight.<\/p><p>Coming down the mountain the disciples question what rising from the dead meant. Two paragraphs before the account of the transfiguration has a heading that in all bibles reads, \u201cThe First Prediction of the Passion.\u201d The first sentence is as follows: \u201cHe began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed and rise after three days.\u201d Why is the heading of the paragraph not, \u201cThe First Prediction of the Resurrection?\u201d Often in the Gospels we hear that Jesus\u2019 face is set like flint on Jerusalem, or that He is resolutely journeying to Jerusalem. I always interpreted or understood that as His focus to be on the Cross. Maybe His focus was beyond the Cross and the Cross was just in His path. Perhaps His vision was on the ultimate goal, union with the Father and with us! At the Last Supper He prayed, \u201cFather may they be one as you and I are one.\u201d<\/p><p>Perhaps that should be our focus as well. We are all on a journey and we should keep our ultimate destination in sight.<\/p><p>If we do, we have a much better chance of getting there safely. We are all companions on the same journey and we all should have the same destination as our goal. We need to all help each other along the way, especially during this crazy and uncertain time that we are now living in. Jesus is walking with us, this I know. May God bless us on the way.<\/p><p>Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of us Your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of Your love.<\/p><p>Amen.<\/p><p>In Jesus, Mother Mary and St. Joseph,<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5c9432 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b5c9432\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Personal Witness<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92af7e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"92af7e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>During my prior life as a Certified Public Accountant I did a fair amount of work-related travel. Several of my clients owned their own private aircraft. Several had licenses to fly but they were not professional pilots by any means, and so I was always a little apprehensive to fly with them. One of those pilots in particular gave me cause to worry.<\/p><p>One day we were flying back to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from a business meeting in Detroit. There were four stout men cramped into a twin engine four seat Cessna. For some reason I drew the copilot\u2019s seat. Being an amateur that he was, the pilot apparently did not check the weather. After being in the air for about 30 minutes he said, \u201cIt looks like there is some weather ahead.\u201d I could see it on the radar screen and shortly thereafter I could see total darkness ahead and it was early afternoon. We flew into a hailstorm.<\/p><p>Now sitting in the copilot\u2019s seat with my knees against the dashboard and my face about 18 inches from the windshield I had a pretty good view of what was coming. Suddenly it was total darkness. The hail hitting the windshield was deafening. It sounded like a machine gun. I felt that the windshield could collapse at any moment. I looked over at the pilot and he was turning white. I discovered that I could pray three complete rosaries in five minutes flat. I think that the worst part of the experience was knowing that we were traveling at 180 miles per hour without being able to see where we were going.<\/p><p>After about 10 or 15 minutes that felt like an eternity, we either flew out of or above the storm. We burst out into a clear blue sky. After total darkness the light was blinding. I looked back at the darkness and never wanted to go through that again. I immediately felt that my prayers were answered, and I thanked God for delivering us from that nightmare.<\/p><p>Whenever I ponder the Transfiguration, I think of that experience. Jesus had just told His disciples that He was journeying to Jerusalem to be crucified. It had to be a dark moment for them. The climb up the mountain must have been particularly long and arduous. But then from the cloud came the voice of God. Jesus was transfigured before them. Moses and Elija, dead for hundreds of years, appear with Him. It is a glimpse into eternity. It is a vision of life beyond the storms of this world. It is life beyond the Cross as the Glorified Risen Lord stands before them.<\/p><p>There was still work to be done and they had to journey with Jesus down the mountain and then up the Hill of Calvary. This experience had to give Jesus and His disciples the courage to go on. Unlike the baptism of Jesus where the voice of the Father is addressing Jesus, God is now speaking to the disciples and to us, \u201cThis is my beloved Son, listen to Him.\u201d God wants us to know what lies ahead for us as well, if we but remain faithful, and that should give all of us the courage to go on. The inevitable storms of life remain in our path, but the bright light of Easter dawns for us who believe.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72f0c7c elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"72f0c7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" 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class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tI first encountered Fr. Glenn\u2019s preaching on Ash Wednesday, 2006.\u00a0 It only took one homily, and my family and I realized that Fr. Glenn has a very special gift.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn is clearly very spiritual, and that comes through in all of his homilies and reflections.\u00a0 His spirituality is not aloof, or inaccessible.\u00a0 His holiness is authentic, grounded, accessible and on fire.\u00a0 And, that fire is shared, such that the listener also becomes on fire, and inspired to go deeper with Scripture, with God and with our neighbor.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn has inspired me to engage at the deepest level and to work to find my spiritual path, always encouraging, mentoring, coaching.\u00a0 I would strongly encourage anyone who can to attend one of his Masses, homilies, or podcasts.\u00a0 Catch the fire of the Holy Spirit working through Fr. Glenn!!!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"John J Hern Jr.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">John J Hern Jr.<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFr. Glenn has many charisms, which he displays by his compassion, theological intelligence, spirituality, and love of God.  His compassion is continually displayed when he visits the sick of the parish. His manner of prayer and conversation is definitively a gift from God.  His spirituality is very evident when he preaches. His homilies are instructive, encouraging and centered on God\u2019s infinite love for each of us. Fr. Glenn is a teacher, a mentor, and a wonderful listener who encourages those around him to follow Jesus more closely. He is Spirit filled, Spirit led and Spirit giving!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"Deacon Scott &amp; Claudia Jamieson\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">Deacon Scott & Claudia Jamieson<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Second Sunday of Lent &#8211; Year B Reading I Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, &#8220;Abraham!&#8221;&#8220;Here I am!&#8221; he replied. Then God said: &#8220;Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunday-readings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2014The Second Sunday of Lent - Year B - The Gratitude Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/02\/26\/the-second-sunday-of-lent-year-b\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2014The Second Sunday of Lent - Year B - The Gratitude Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Second Sunday of Lent &#8211; Year B Reading I Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, &#8220;Abraham!&#8221;&#8220;Here I am!&#8221; he replied. Then God said: &#8220;Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. 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