Year 36 No.

47 Second Sunday of Lent (A) — Violet March 5, 2023

TRANSFORMED BY
God’s Grace
by Fr. Eli Rowdy Y. Lumbo, SJ

death come to many people.

I have witnessed the patients,
their watchers, and the health
workers encounter illness,

O n this Second Sunday of constant invitations from God dying, and death as well as
Lent, we read in Genesis to conversion. And, I believe, this the accompanying pain and
(First Reading) of the Lord’s is especially more meaningful sadness. In the face of sickness
invitation for Abraham to leave during the Lenten season, in and death, we are reminded of
his land and family for a place the context of what we have and confronted with the reality
and people he does not know. In been going through during the of the temporal nature of our
the Second Reading, the apostle Covid-19 pandemic, the wars lives. Our life is but on loan to
Paul exhorts his disciple Timothy raging in the world, and the truth us. The fact is that our life will
to bear with difficulties. And in of our sinfulness. We come face end sooner or later. Before that
the Gospel, Matthew describes to face with the reality that there day comes, we are called to
Jesus taking Peter, James, and is a need for conversion. conversion: to repentance and
John and leading them up a I was immersed in prison to a life of grace. I have seen
high mountain. In the invitation ministry for more than 11 years. how people, in the face of death,
to Abraham, there is the call to I heard stories and saw how are transformed, by the grace of
respond with obedience and faith; lives were shattered by crime God, to have a profound sense
in the exhortation to Timothy, and sin. But I also witnessed of joy, a deep sense of calm, and
to be strong and persevere in the conversion of persons an utter surrender to God’s will.
the face of trials for the gospel; behind bars, their families, and We are thus called to prepare
and in the invitation to the three those involved in the ministry. and assess our lives and respond
apostles, to be with the Lord and I recognized the grace of God to the invitation of our God to
remain faithful to him. at work towards forgiveness conversion. We are all sinners;
When Abraham follows and acceptance, penance and hence, the need to change and
God, he is blessed. When repentance. I observed how be transformed, to turn away
Timothy bears the trials for conversion moved people from sin and be worthy of
the gospel, he is graced. When towards wholeness. heaven. No matter what our
the apostles accompany Jesus I presently do hospital fears or anxieties in life are, we
up the mountain, they become chaplaincy at the Philippine are invited to open our hearts
witnesses to his transfiguration General Hospital. Here, I have to God and trust God’s mercy
and are themselves changed. been confronted with various and love.
If we come think about it, kinds and degrees of illnesses What is our response to God’s
our experiences in life are and pains, and I have seen invitation?
 (The Gloria is omitted.) 1. Upright is the word of the
THE INTRODUCTORY RITES L ord ,/ and all his works are
Collect
Entrance Antiphon trustworthy./ He loves justice
(Cf. Ps 27[26]:8–9) P—Let us pray. (Pause) and right;/ of the kindness of
(Recited when there is no opening song.) O God, who have com- the Lord the earth is full. (R)
manded us to listen to your
Of you my heart has spoken: 2. See, the eyes of the L ord
Seek his face. It is your face, beloved Son, be pleased, we
O Lord, that I seek; hide not pray, to nourish us inwardly by are upon those who fear him,/
your face from me. your word, that, with spiritual upon those who hope for his
sight made pure, we may kindness,/ to deliver them from
Greeting rejoice to behold your glory. death/ and preserve them in
(The sign of the cross is made here.) spite of famine. (R)
Through our Lord Jesus
P—Grace to you and peace Christ, your Son, who lives and
from God our Father and the reigns with you in the unity of 3. Our soul waits for the Lord,/
Lord Jesus Christ. the Holy Spirit, God, for ever who is our help and our shield./
All—And with your spirit. and ever. May your kindness, O Lord,
All—Amen. be upon us/ who have put our
Introduction hope in you. (R)
(These [or similar words] may be used
to address the assembly.) Liturgy of the word Second Reading (2 Tm 1:8b–10)

P—On a high mountain, First Reading (Gn 12:1–4a) (Sit) Jesus gave his life for us not because
before the eyes of the chosen we merited it but because it was the
disciples, Jesus is transfigured. God calls Abram away from the Father’s gracious design. Paul invites
This glimpse of the Lord’s security of his land and home to us to be thankful by bearing our share of
divinity is meant to encourage form from him the chosen people. the hardship for the sake of the Gospel.
the disciples in their following The call of Abram symbolizes our
of the Lord. It is also intended pilgrimage of faith. A reading from the second
Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy
to spur us on as we undergo A reading from the Book of
the “Lenten moments” of our Genesis BELOVED: Bear your share
lives, when we experience of hardship for the gospel
doubts, pains, and life’s THE Lord said to Abram: “Go
with the strength that comes
absurdities. With Peter and forth from the land of your
from God.
the other disciples, we can kinsfolk and from your father’s
He saved us and called us
say that we, too, have heard house to a land that I will
to a holy life, not according
the Father’s voice on the holy show you.
to our works but according
mountain. We do well to be “I will make of you a great
to his own design and the
attentive to it. nation, and I will bless you; I
grace bestowed on us in Christ
will make your name great, so
Penitential Act Jesus before time began, but
that you will be a blessing. I will
now made manifest through
bless those who bless you and
P—Brethren (brothers and the appearance of our savior
sisters), let us acknowledge curse those who curse you. All
Christ Jesus, who destroyed
our sins, and so prepare the communities of the earth
death and brought life and
ourselves to celebrate the shall find blessing in you.”
immortality to light through
sacred mysteries. (Pause) Abram went as the L ord
the gospel.
directed him.
P—You were sent to heal the —The word of the Lord.
contrite of heart: Lord, have —The word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God. All—Thanks be to God.
mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy. Responsorial Psalm (Ps 33) Verse before the Gospel
P. Octubre, ssp (Cf. Mt 17:5) (Stand)
P—You came to call sinners: R—Lord, let your mercy be on
Dm ♭ P. Octubre, ssp
B♭ Am
Christ, have mercy.  we
us,as place our trust in you. All—From the shining cloud
         Am
P. Octubre, ssp
Am the Father’s voice is heard: This
♭
All—Christ, have mercy. Dm
 Dm
B♭

  Lord, 
B♭♭
 
      is my beloved Son, hear him.
let your mer cy be on
P—You are seated at the right   Lord,
 let your
 mer cy be on  
hand of the Father to intercede 3 Dm your mer Gmcy be on
Lord, let Am Gospel (Mt 17:1–9)
for us: Lord, have mercy.        P—A reading from the holy
 Dm
Dm Gm Am

3
All—Lord, have mercy. 
3     
us, as we place our
Gm  trust
Am Gospel according to Matthew
  
P—May almighty God have     our
  us,
us, as we place  trust
 All—Glory to you, O Lord.
mercy on us, forgive us our sins, 5 as Dm we place our trust

and bring us to everlasting life. 5   

Dm JESUS took Peter, James, and
All—Amen. 5   in Dm

you. John his brother, and led
  in 
you.
in you.
them up a high mountain there he will come to judge you love through Jesus Christ,
by themselves. And he was the living and the dead. our Lord.
transfigured before them; his I believe in the Holy Spirit, All—Amen.
face shone like the sun and his the holy catholic Church,
clothes became white as light. the communion of saints, Liturgy of
And behold, Moses and Elijah the forgiveness of sins, the the eucharist
appeared to them, conversing resurrection of the body, and
with him. Then Peter said to life everlasting. Amen. Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is
Prayer of the Faithful
good that we are here. If you P—Pray, brethren…
wish, I will make three tents P—Sisters and brothers, from All—May the Lord accept the
here, one for you, one for the shining cloud, the Father’s sacrifice at your hands for the
Moses, and one for Elijah.” voice is heard, and his Son is praise and glory of his name,
While he was still speaking, revealed as his beloved. May for our good and the good of
behold, a bright cloud cast we too realize that we are all his holy Church.
a shadow over them, then God’s beloved as we say: Prayer over the Offerings
from the cloud came a voice
that said, “This is my beloved R—Father, hear your beloved P—May this sacrifice, O
Son, with whom I am well children. Lord, we pray, cleanse us of
pleased; listen to him.” When our faults and sanctify your
C—For the Church: may Pope
the disciples heard this, they faithful in body and mind for
Francis, bishops, priests,
fell prostrate and were very the celebration of the paschal
deacons, and the lay faithful,
much afraid. But Jesus came festivities.
become a manifestation of your
and touched them, saying, Through Christ our Lord.
love on earth in their prayer All—Amen.
“Rise, and do not be afraid.” and faithful witnessing. We
And when the disciples raised pray: (R) Preface: The Transfiguration
their eyes, they saw no one of the Lord
else but Jesus alone. C—For all who serve in
As they were coming down the government: may P—The Lord be with you.
from the mountain, Jesus your love manifest in the All—And with your spirit.
charged them, “Do not tell policies they make and P—Lift up your hearts.
the vision to anyone until the implement. We pray: (R) All—We lift them up to the Lord.
Son of Man has been raised P—Let us give thanks to the
C—For many of us gathered
from the dead.” Lord our God.
today who are undergoing
All—It is right and just.
—The Gospel of the Lord. great difficulties: may we
find purpose through the P—It is truly right and just,
All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ. l ove a n d l i f e o f p e o p l e our duty and our salvation,
around us. We pray: (R) always and everywhere to give
Homily (Sit) you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
C—For our youth: help them almighty and eternal God,
Profession of Faith (Stand)
(Instead of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan
strive to become who you want through Christ our Lord.
Creed, especially during Lent and Easter Time, them to be, the hope of our For after he had told the
the baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church, family and of our country. We disciples of his coming Death,
known as the Apostles’ Creed, may be used.) pray: (R) on the holy mountain he
All—I believe in God, the C—For the catechumens: may manifested to them his glory,
Father almighty, Creator of they be firm in their resolve to show, even by the testimony
heaven and earth, and in Jesus to renounce sin so as to be of the law and the prophets, that
Christ, his only Son, our Lord, reborn at the font of life and the Passion leads to the glory
(at the words that follow, up to and salvation. We pray: (R) of the Resurrection.
including the Virgin Mary, all bow.)
And so, with the Powers
C—For our departed loved of heaven, we worship you
who was conceived by the ones: embrace them into your
Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin constantly on earth, and before
eternal love. We pray: (R) your majesty without end we
Mary, suffered under Pontius
C—Let us pray for the urgent acclaim:
Pilate, was crucified, died and
concerns of our community
was buried; he descended and our personal intentions All—Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God
into hell; on the third day he (Pause). We pray: (R) of hosts. Heaven and earth are
rose again from the dead; he full of your glory. Hosanna in
ascended into heaven, and P—Father, hear your beloved the highest. Blessed is he who
is seated at the right hand of children. Draw us closer to comes in the name of the Lord.
God the Father almighty; from you so that we too may love as Hosanna in the highest.(Kneel)
Acclamation (Stand)
All—When we eat this Bread
and drink this Cup, we
proclaim your Death, O Lord,
until you come again.
THE COMMUNION RITE
The Lord’s Prayer
All—Our Father…
P—Deliver us, Lord…
All—For the kingdom, the
power and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Invitation to Peace
Invitation to Communion
(Kneel)

P—Behold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away
the sins of the world. Blessed
are those called to the supper
of the Lamb.
All—Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under
my roof, but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Communion Antiphon
(Mt 17:5)
This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am well pleased; listen
to him.
Prayer after Communion
(Stand)

P—Let us pray. (Pause)

As we receive these glo­
rious mysteries, we make
thanksgiving to you, O Lord,
for allowing us while still on
earth to be partakers even now
of the things of heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.

THE CONCLUDING RITES

may always desire and at last Dismissal
P—The Lord be with you. attain that glory whose beauty
All—And with your spirit. he showed in his own Body to P— The Mass has been offered.
the amazement of his Apostles. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord
Prayer over the People Through Christ our Lord. by your life.
All—Amen. All—Thanks be to God.
P—Bow down for the blessing.
(Pause) P—And may the blessing of
Bless your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the Father, and
O Lord, with a blessing that the Son, (†) and the Holy Spirit
endures forever, and keep them come down on you and remain TO SHOP ONLINE, VISIT:
faithful to the Gospel of your with you forever. www.stpauls.ph
Only Begotten Son, so that they All—Amen.