Scripture Reflections for the Second Sunday of Lent

Year B, Lectionary 26


God made the greatest sacrifice up in Mount Calvary. In going up the mountain with Jesus we are meant to let go of whatever we're holding on to that isn't God, things we value such things or people, because they may be holding us down. But when we do reach the top with Jesus we can then experience the glory of God, the revelation of a communion of persons, and hopefully be empowered by it as we continue back down to our life's journey.

Hate feeling lost on Sundays at church? Searching for a better explanation of the Bible than what you hear from your pastor's sermon? Check out the following collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture that deal with: AbrahamAscensionBindingCalvaryCharityCommunityCovenantDeathElijahEucharistEvilExodusFaithFreedomGiftHopeIdentityIsaacJourneyLawLeadLentListenLoveMissionMosesMountainMysticalObedienceOfferingPaschal MysteryPassionPeterPlanPrayerPresentProphetRevelationSacrificeSt. Teresa of AvilaStewardTransfigurationTransformationTrustUnderstandViolence

Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry

“God gives us the gift but it's God's and God ultimately is going to ask us to give it all back to him again”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ in "ABRAHAM AND ISAAC" (February 27, 2021)
Catholic Productions

“what God is doing here is he needs a man who trusts him so much that he will pre-enact the crucifixion two thousand years before it happens, that's the reason, that's the deeper reason for this test of Abraham”


Brant Pitre in "Jesus and Isaac: Two Beloved Sons, One Sacred Mountain" (February 22, 2021)
Psalm 116:10, 15-19
Romans 8:31-34
Catholic Productions

“In the Ascension what Jesus does is he takes the sacrifice that was performed out of charity, out of love in time on Calvary and he brings that offering of himself that takes place on Good Friday in time and space, he brings it into eternity”


Brant Pitre in "The Ascension and the Eucharistic Sacrifice" (February 24, 2021)
Mark 9:2-10

“And both Moses and Elijah have something to teach us about listening. God spoke to each of them on a mountain but the way in which God spoke to each of them was different.”


Fr. Geoffrey Plant in "Listen to him" (February 18, 2024)
U.S. Catholic magazine

“As we see Jesus glorified here today it prepares us for when we go through our own difficult moments. It helps us as we go through our own personal peaks and valleys in life.”


Fr. Maurice J. Nutt (February 21, 2024)
Overall Readings
Catholic Women Preach

“I am grateful that God found and continues to find ways to break through the noise of life and surprise me. You don't need to be good, you just have to try your best to be receptive to recognize that God might be trying to reach out to you right where you are.”


Vickey McBride (February 28, 2021)
UACatholic

“That's the message for us that our God is a God that holds on to us no matter what, when it evades our mind, our logic, our preference, our God still holds on”


Fr. John Paul Forté, OP (February 28, 2021)

“Make sure you don't lose God, no matter what you lose in this life, make sure God is still intact in your life for that is all that matters. For if God is still part of your story it doesn't matter what is going on he knows how to turn things around.”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo (February 19, 2024)
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA

“if God is for God's own, if God is with those whom God has created in the divine image and likeness, who can be against us? We can be against us. We can be against ourselves. We can work against our own best interest. We can thwart the grace of God”


Fr. Oscar Pratt (February 28, 2021)
St. Teresa of Avila - DC

“if God is good in the good times then that same God is still God during the bad times”


Monsignor Raymond East (February 28, 2021)
Catholic Women Preach

“God is calling Abraham to a holy indifference in his relationship with God and the way he lives out his faith. This isn't an indifference that's careless or detached from reality but a recognition that all truly does belong to God, even one's hopes and deepest desire.”


Salena Ibrahim (February 25, 2024)

“in the midst of all the afflictions we may be experiencing and the changes and the chances of this life, God is saying to us 'be still and know that I am God'”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo (February 25, 2021)
Bellarmine Chapel

“with Jesus are we only able to understand what we are going through as we get older, as we journey through life and to trust that even though we don’t know what any of this means, it does mean something”


Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ (February 25, 2024)
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA

“So simple question for today, Church, is God for you?”


Fr. Oscar Pratt (February 25, 2024)
UACatholic

“It is so important, people of God, for us to be able to have places where we can escape, hear God in a clearer place, in a clearer way”


Fr. John Paul Forté, OP (February 25, 2024)
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry

“Sometimes you think you know exactly what the plan is, that God made a promise to you years ago and finally you’re starting to see it come to fruition and then God blows it up”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ in "A sweet and salty sandwich" (February 25, 2024)

“When we look back we realize that all of us have had parents that had to sacrifice something for us to achieve greatness”


Fr. Tony Ricard (February 25, 2024)
St. Teresa of Avila - DC

“Church, don’t get so stuck in your particular circumstance that you forget your destination”


Monsignor Raymond East (February 25, 2024)