THEME: OUR JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LAND
READINGS: Genesis 12:1-4/ 2 Timothy 1:8b-10/ Matthew 17:1-9
2nd Sunday of Lent, 2026
INTRODUCTION
Beloved in Christ, as we embark on the Lenten journey of forty days, the Word of God reminds us that the Christian life is a journey with the Lord Jesus to the heavenly Promised Land. In the first reading, Abram (Abraham) is presented to us a model for journeying with faith, hope and determination.
1. LEAVING OUR FATHER’S HOUSE
Once upon a time, a loving mother asked her little son to abandon a game with his friends for a trip. The boy, however, was initially reluctant to leave his friends and the game which he was enjoying so much.
In today’s first reading, God told Abram: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Unlike the little boy in the above story, Abram willingly made the sacrifice entailed in departing from his country, kindred and father’s house.
No physical journey can be made without a movement. Similarly, we have to move with the Lord in order to arrive at the heavenly Promised Land. God is not asking us to abandon our earthly country, kindred and father’s house like Abram. Rather, He is asking us to depart from those “comfort zones” in our lives which impede our spiritual journey. These include our sins, bad habits, unholy relationships, despair, lack of faith in God’s existence and salvation, etc. Today, like Abram, let us willingly and promptly move out from these and other counter-spiritual “comfort zones”.
2. THE TRANSFIGURATION: A GLIMPSE OF OUR DESTINATION
The little boy in our story was unwilling to go out with his mother until she showed him a documentary video on the destination – a park unknown to him. The video depicted the beautiful scenery, children enjoying several different exciting gaming and sporting facilities, parents having fun with their children, etc. The boy was so captivated by the video until the mother asked him to get washed down and dressed up for the trip. He then promptly stopped the viewing and excitedly went to prepare for the trip.
St. Peter and the other Apostles of our Lord Jesus acted like the boy in our story. Without our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection, none of us would have access to the heavenly Promised Land. Yet the Apostles were scandalized when Jesus told them that He would be arrested in Jerusalem, suffer in the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes, be crucified and rise on the third day (cf. Matt. 16:21-23).
Like the mother of the boy, Jesus used the transfiguration to give St. Peter, St. James and St. John a glimpse – a short “video clip” – of the glory of heaven. They saw the awesome glorious appearance of Jesus, the blessed souls, Moses and Elijah, and heard the majestic voice of the Heavenly Father (cf. Matt. 17:1-7).
Like the boy in our story, St. Peter and his colleagues were so overawed that they did not know what to do, and wished to experience the transfiguration for a longer period (cf. Matt. 17:3-4). However, like the mother of the boy, Jesus had to tell them that it was time to descend from the Mount of Transfiguration.
Beloved, the Apostles had to be convinced about the necessity of the cost that Jesus had to pay for our access into heaven. We do not need another transfiguration to convince us about the glory of heaven. The teachings of Jesus, His suffering, death, resurrection and glorious ascension into heaven, as well as the testimonies of the Apostles should make us steadfast on our journey to the heavenly Promised Land.
Whenever doubts cloud our minds, let us ask God for the grace and faith of Abram who promptly embarked on his journey even though he didn’t know his destination nor had a glimpse of it.
3. ENDURING TRIALS ON OUR WAY
Access to the park was not a problem for the boy, as his parents had paid for it. However, they had to deal with another difficulty. While on their journey, the mother’s car developed a fault. They were not discouraged nor did they think of abandoning their trip. Rather, they got the car repaired and eventually reached their destination, though late.
Similarly, though Jesus has paid for our access to the heavenly Promised Land, we may encounter some difficulties or trials on our journey. Our trials may be sickness, disappointments, joblessness, losses of various kinds, or the like. We should, however, not be discouraged, but journey on with the Lord. Thus, St. Paul admonishes us in today’s second reading: “join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God” (2 Tim. 1:8b).
CONCLUSION
Unlike St. Peter and his colleagues before the transfiguration, let us always appreciate the price our Lord has paid for our salvation in our prayers, worship, acts of charity and lifestyle. Finally, like Abram, let us journey with God’s grace, faith, hope and determination to heaven.
Amen.
By Most Rev. John Kobina Louis
