Daily Readings - Sun Feb 28 2021

¹Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!Here I am," he replied.²Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."⁹When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.¹⁰Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.¹¹But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!Here I am," he replied.¹²"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."¹³Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.¹⁵The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time¹⁶and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,¹⁷I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,¹⁸and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

Romans

Chapter 8

³¹What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?³³Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.³⁴Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Mark

Chapter 9

²After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.³His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.⁴And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.⁵Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."⁶(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)⁷Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"⁸Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.¹⁰They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound themes of faith, trust, and the divine plan. In the first reading, we encounter Abraham, a man of deep faith, who is tested by God in a most dramatic way. Asked to sacrifice his only son Isaac, Abraham’s unwavering trust in God’s promise is put to the ultimate test. His willingness to obey, even in the face of such a heart-wrenching command, reveals the depth of his faith. This story is not just about Abraham’s obedience but also about God’s faithfulness. At the last moment, God intervenes, sparing Isaac and providing a ram as a substitute. This act underscores God’s mercy and His desire to provide, even in the most trying circumstances. In the second reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us of the boundless love of God. He asks rhetorically, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” This question is rooted in the ultimate expression of God’s love—the sacrifice of His own Son for the sake of humanity. Paul reassures us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, not even the trials and tribulations of this life. This passage invites us to place our trust in God’s providence, knowing that He who gave us His Son will surely provide us with all that we need. The Gospel brings us to the mountaintop where Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. In this moment, the divine glory of Jesus is revealed, and the disciples are given a glimpse of the eternal reality that lies beyond the cross. The voice of the Father echoes from the cloud, affirming Jesus as His beloved Son and commanding the disciples to listen to Him. This scene is a powerful reminder of the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Just as the disciples were strengthened by this vision, we too are called to fix our eyes on Christ and to trust in His guidance. These readings, when taken together, invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s promises, even when the road ahead is unclear. Like the disciples on the mountaintop, we are invited to listen to Jesus and to place our faith in His words. And like St. Paul, we are reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God. As we navigate the challenges of our daily lives, let us draw strength from these readings. May we trust in God’s faithfulness, listen to His voice, and remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that He is always with us.