Daily Lenten Reflections

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Second Sunday of Lent

Reflection

Here we are at Transfiguration Sunday. Jesus is transfigured. The disciples are transfigured/changed so that they can hear God. Lent is meant to be the time of our own transfiguration. Today’s reading from Genesis suggests to me that our transfiguration has to deal with the place of sacrifice in our life.

Webster’s definition of sacrifice is: the surrender of something of value for the sake of something else. This is a good definition, but it contains more than meets the eye. Our first reading opens up the meaning of sacrifice when Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. What is behind God’s invitation to sacrifice Isaac?

We know this story well. The story ends with Abraham walking back to his own land together with Isaac. The deeper meaning of this story teaches us about the innate need in us to offer sacrifice. Simply put, in order for something to be received as a gift it must be received twice. When the gift is first received we acknowledge that we are not worthy of the gift. We offer it back to the giver. The giver then gives the gift back to us assuring us of our worthiness. This is the exact dynamics within the story of Abraham offering to sacrifice Isaac.

What is your sacrifice to God this Lent? What is the greatest gift that you have received from God that you need to offer back to God? When you put your time, your talents, and your treasure at God’s disposal, you are acting like Abraham, trying to gift back to the giver.

Prayer

Dear God help me today to offer all that I am to serve You and Your people. Make me bold in my love of You and others.

Fr. Stan Deresienski, S.S.E. ’67

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

Psalm 116:10, 15-19

Second Reading: Romans 8:31b-34

Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

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Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry

The Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry at Saint Michael’s College is to share the Good News of the Gospel with the College community by facilitating encounter with Jesus Christ. We do this through the celebration of the Church’s Liturgy, in programs promoting knowledge of the Catholic faith, by developing ecumenical and interreligious relationships, and providing retreats and other opportunities for personal spiritual growth.

The Catholic and Edmundite tradition upon which the College was founded is grounded in the conviction that all women and men are created in the image and likeness of God providing a special dignity unique to each person. Such dignity requires human life to be respected in all of its stages recognizing that we are all children of God.

Therefore, in its pursuit of furthering the Reign of God, the Edmundite Campus Ministry staff seeks to interact with and support every member of the College community in their search for Truth, contributing to the “enhancement of the human person and to the advancement of human culture in light of the Catholic faith.”