Second Sunday in Lent (A) 2023

INTRO:

I know people who climb mountains.

They explain that depending on the
1. MOUNTAIN HEIGHT,
2. THE TRAIL YOU FOLLOW, and your
3. PHYSICAL ENDURANCE it can be a hard trek!

They also admit you see God’s creation at its most magnificence along the way! For most of them that’s why they do it!

How many of you have climbed a mountain?
(Raise hands, if so)
I am sure you all have stories to tell about your “climb”!

But truly ALL OF US CLIMB CERTAIN MOUNTAINS in our lives.
Some of you climb the MOUNTAIN of:

• Dealing with your children
• Dealing with finding peace after a loved-one dies
• Dealing with finances
• Dealing with a CRAZY WORLD and a CRAZY pandemic!!!

We are all DAILY in a mountain-climbing mode. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s tricky, sometimes we go right along, or sometimes we fall!

We need endurance and the best nourishment as well.
We also need a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel.

Many Scripture scholars say that’s what Jesus was doing for PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN! His transfigured body was meant to offer them a LIGHT at the end of a tunnel and to encourage them for the difficult times ahead as they would begin to lead the church after Christ’s resurrection.

While we do not see the TRANSFIGURED BODY of JESUS today in this church and only hear about it in this WORD OF GOD, it is still meant for you to be encouraged to go through your Lenten disciplines knowing that the sufferings you and I endure will be changed in God’s time and in the future.

YES, there are harrowing turns in our lives,
And when we put our faith into God’s Hands we can experience His love, mercy, and glory and climb the mountain, dealing with whatever comes our way!

CONCLUSION

What happens each day at this altar is a wonderous mystery for you to consume what tastes and looks like bread but in reality it is JESUS, His real presence.

Take advantage of Him who climbs with us with encouragement and His love.