2nd Sunday of Lent

Date: February 28, 2010

First Reading (Genesis 15: 5–12 and 17–18)
A reading from the book of Genesis.
The Lord God brought Abram outside and stated to him, "Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will like that." Abram believed in the Lord who, because of this, held him to be an upright man. And he stated, "I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession." Then Abram asked, "My Lord, how am I to know that it shall be mine?" The Lord replied, "Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon." Abram brought all these animals, cut them in two, and laid each half facing its other half, but he did cut the birds in half. The birds of prey came down upon them, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep came over Abram, and a dreadful darkness took hold of him. When the sun had already set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between the halves of the victims. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, stating, "To your descendants I have given this country from the river of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates."

Second Reading (Philippians 3:17 – 4:1)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
Unite in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and look at those who walk in our way of life. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. I have stated it to you many times, and now I repeat it with tears: they are heading for ruin; their belly is their god and they feel proud of what should be their shame. They only think of earthly things. For us, citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making it like his own body, radiant in Glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself.

Gospel (Luke 9: 28b–36)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up to the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became dazzling white. Two men were conversing with Jesus: Moses and Elijah. They had just appeared in heavenly glory and were telling him about his departure that had to take place in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had fallen asleep, but they awoke suddenly and saw Jesus' Glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter stated to Jesus, "Master, how good it is for us to be here, for we can make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For Peter did not know what to say. And no sooner had he spoken than a cloud appeared and covered them; and the disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then these words came from the cloud: "This is my Son, my Chosen one, listen to him." And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was alone; Moses and Elijah had vanished. The disciples kept this to themselves at the time, telling no one of anything they had seen.