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2nd Sunday of Lent - Year B
An in-depth preparation for Sunday Liturgy - context, meaning and reflections byHis Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of ManilaReflections for 2nd Sunday of Lent
Tying up the three readings with the psalm
Let our living and dying be a glorious sacrifice to fulfill God’s will and do good for our sisters and brothers.The first reading narrates Abraham's surrender in faith and obedience to God in his willingness to sacrifice his only son to God. The responsorial psalm is a prayer of gratitude for the Lord's abiding presence in our lives. The second reading recalls God's own sacrifice for us. He did not spare His own Son whose death cleansed us of our sins and sanctified us. The gospel relates how during his transfiguration in Mt. Tabor, Christ revealed to his disciples a foretaste of his resurrection after death.
First Reading:Gen 22: 1-2, 9, 10-13, 15-18MeaningAbraham's faith and obedience to God was put to the test which he passed with flying colors. [The Lord declares] I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars. How to ProclaimThis is a riveting story so proclaim it slowly taking care to change your tone with each character. God's voice is authoritative as he tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Abraham's voice is one of quiet obedience when he answers " Here I am," Highlight the urgency in the speaking parts of God's messenger when he tells Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac. The climax of the reading is in the last paragraph, which should be read with solemnity It is the " promise" on which our Faith was founded.
Word WatchMoriah - maw-RAI-uh Holocaust - Hō-luh-ˌkost
Second Reading:Rom 8:31-34MeaningEveryday, we are tempted and tried. The second reading assures us that since God has already sanctfied us with the sacrificial death of His own son, He will never abandon us, so take heart as nothing, not even the devil can conquer us. How to ProclaimIn the second reading, Paul is asking a series of rhetorical questions, which, like any question, should be read with a raised inflection at the end. Read each question slowly. In turn, the last sentence, which responds to all these questions, should be read with full confidence.
Word WatchAcquits - AH-kwits |
