2nd Sunday of Lent Year B. By Tobe Eze

2nd Sunday of Lent Year B.

FIRST READING
Genesis 22:1—2, 9a, 10—13, 15—18

SECOND READING
Romans 8:31b—34

GOSPEL
Mark 9:2—10

THEME: THE MOUNTAIN'S EXPERIENCE.

Throughout the whole Bible, there are so many stories about mountain. Both ugly and beautiful stories happened on the mountain. Many beautiful stories that happened on the mountain was horrible before they reach the Horeb of the story. Come and think of Elijah when he ran out from Jezebel, he ran to the mountain, raven was feeding him and the voice of the Lord came to him there (1Kings 19:11-18, 1Kings 17:2-16), think of Moses, he was meeting God only on the mountain (Exodus 19:1-34). God himself promised to prepare banquet for his people on the mountain (Isaiah 25:6). Why mountain? Continue Reading.................................

As we read in the first reading, the Lord provided on the mountain the lamb for sacrifice. It was a terrible situation for Abraham and his son Isaac before that provision. A boy of ten was once asked. If you were Isaac, will it be possible for your father to tire you like Abraham did to Isaac? His answer was Nna mu oju ogwu? (That is, does my father has charm that he will use to do it)? Just use this and know what Abraham past through before he could succeed in tying Isaac to the altar of sacrifice. He might have fought a serious battle with his son before tying him down. It is only lifeless objects that see death and stay. Isaac may had made serious effort to liberate himself but his father overpowered him. After seeing all those horrible experience of the two on the mountain, God decided to provide to remedy the situation. God can remedy our own situations if we climb the mountain and pass through the mountain’s experience.

When God has prepared a banquet for us on the mountain, who can deprive us that? Abraham did not spare his son on mountain Moriah and God himself did not spare his son on mountain Calvary, so also we will not be spared on the mountain of lent to enter Easter. The test like Abraham in the first reading is like what the Lord has prepared for us, no one can change it, we are just to ask for the necessary graces to pass. The lot marked out for us is our delight and we must welcome indeed the heritage that falls to us. (Psalm 16)

The gospel shows us the story of transfiguration. He took them to a high mountain and there, he transfigured before them. Why did he take them to a high mountain? Are there no low mountains around? Why mountain at all? Jesus was taken to the high mountain during his temptation and he saw the riches of the earth. Jesus himself took his four of his apostles to a high mountain and they saw the riches of heaven. During temptation, you may climb many mountains but check very well to see if you are seeing the riches of the world or that of heaven. There must be Good Friday before Easter or more still Lent before Easter. We must climb a high mountain in life but we should check if we are seeing the riches of heaven or the riches of the world.

Lenten season is a serious season of the Church that offers us the opportunity to climb the right mountain as Abraham did in the first reading and likewise Jesus and four of his apostles. The riches of heaven will make you to say so many things that you do not know. Abraham on the way to the sacrificial mountain of Moriah, he said what he did not know. The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:8). At the mountain of transfiguration, Peter said what he did not know.  Let us build three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and the other for Elijah (Mark 9:5). Peter even forgot himself and the other three in his counting. Selfless love of heaven. And when you notice that you are on the right path, you will be like Peter. And your selflessness will be in Christ Jesus. You will be with Christ wherever he goes, Peter did not count himself and others because he knew that wherever Christ will be, he will be with him.

Mountain’s experience or experiences may sometimes not be palatable just like in Abraham’s case, Jesus’ case during his temptation and many others in the Bible but the outcome will be far better than what we may undergo. Let us today pray to have the right mountain’s experience, no matter how hard it may be, to reap the fruit after. THANKS AND HAPPY SUNDAY.