Daily Readings - Sun Feb 25 2018

First Reading - Genesis 22.1-2, 9-13, 15-18

¹After these things occurred, God tested Abraham, and he said to him, "Abraham, Abraham." And he answered, "Here I am.²He said to him: "Take your only begotten son Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of vision. And there you shall offer him as a holocaust upon one of the mountains, which I will show to you.⁹And they came to the place that God had shown to him. There he built an altar, and he set the wood in order upon it. And when he had bound his son Isaac, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood¹⁰And he reached out his hand and took hold of the sword, in order to sacrifice his son¹¹And behold, an Angel of the Lord called out from heaven, saying, "Abraham, Abraham." And he answered, "Here I am.¹²And he said to him, "Do not extend your hand over the boy, and do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, since you have not spared your only begotten son for my sake.¹³Abraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw behind his back a ram among the thorns, caught by the horns, which he took and offered as a holocaust, instead of his son¹⁵Then the Angel of the Lord called out to Abraham a second time from heaven, saying¹⁶"By my own self, I have sworn, says the Lord. Because you have done this thing, and have not spared your only begotten son for my sake¹⁷I will bless you, and I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies¹⁸And in your offspring, all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you obeyed my voice.

Second Reading - Romans 8.31b-35, 37

Romans

Chapter 8

³¹So, what should we say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us³²He who did not spare even his own Son, but handed him over for the sake of us all, how could he not also, with him, have given us all things³³Who will make an accusation against the elect of God? God is the One who justifies³⁴who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus who has died, and who has indeed also risen again, is at the right hand of God, and even now he intercedes for us³⁵Then who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation? Or anguish? Or famine? Or nakedness? Or peril? Or persecution? Or the sword³⁷But in all these things we overcome, because of him who has loved us

Gospel - Mark 9.2-10

Mark

Chapter 9

²And after six days, Jesus took with him Peter, and James, and John; and he led them separately to a lofty mountain alone; and he was transfigured before them³And his vestments became radiant and exceedingly white like snow, with such a brilliance as no fuller on earth is able to achieve⁴And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were speaking with Jesus⁵And in response, Peter said to Jesus: "Master, it is good for us to be here. And so let us make three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.⁶For he did not know what he was saying. For they were overwhelmed by fear⁷And there was a cloud overshadowing them. And a voice came from the cloud, saying: "This is my most beloved Son. Listen to him.⁸And immediately, looking around, they no longer saw anyone, except Jesus alone with them⁹And as they were descending from the mountain, he instructed them not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until after the Son of man will have risen again from the dead¹⁰And they kept the word to themselves, arguing about what "after he will have risen from the dead" might mean

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound themes of trust, faith, and the revelation of God’s love. In the first reading, we witness Abraham’s unwavering faith as he is tested by God. Called to sacrifice his only son Isaac, Abraham’s obedience, even in the face of unimaginable difficulty, demonstrates his deep trust in God’s plan. This story is not just a test of Abraham’s faith but also a foreshadowing of God’s ultimate sacrifice—His only Son, Jesus Christ. The context of this passage is rooted in the covenant relationship between God and Abraham, highlighting the importance of faithfulness and trust in divine providence. The second reading from Romans builds on this theme of trust and divine love. St. Paul reminds us that if God did not spare His own Son for our sake, He will surely give us all things. This passage reassures us of God’s unwavering support and love, even in the face of trials and tribulations. It invites us to place our trust in God, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love. The context here is one of encouragement, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite the challenges of life. The Gospel takes us to the mountain of the Transfiguration, where Jesus reveals His divine glory to Peter, James, and John. This moment is a revelation of Jesus’ true identity as the beloved Son of God, and it serves as a source of strength for the disciples as they prepare to face the trials of His Passion and death. The voice from the cloud reminds them—and us—to “listen to Him,” to trust in His words and His plan. The context of this passage is one of preparation, equipping the disciples (and us) to trust in Jesus even when the path ahead seems uncertain. These readings are deeply interconnected. Abraham’s trust in God prefigures the ultimate act of love in the sacrifice of Jesus. The Transfiguration reinforces the divine authority of Jesus, inviting us to place our trust in Him. Together, they remind us that faith is not about understanding everything but about trusting in God’s plan, even when it seems difficult or unclear. In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on where we place our trust. Do we trust in God’s plan, even when it seems challenging? Do we listen to Jesus, even when the path ahead is uncertain? Let us draw strength from these readings, remembering that God’s love for us is unwavering, and His plan for us is always one of life and hope. May we, like Abraham, trust in God’s providence, and may we, like the disciples, listen to Jesus and follow Him faithfully.