Church Teachings - Feb. 28, 10. Second Sunday of Lent

First Reading: 5 And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed the LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7 And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chalde'ans, to give you this land to possess." 8 But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" 9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a she-goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in two, and laid each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and lo, a dread and great darkness fell upon him. 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphra'tes, - Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

Abram (later called Abraham) is the "Father of Faith". He formed a covenant with God who promised him a son of his own and descendants that are number of the stars in the sky. He later conceive a son through his wife's servant Hagar which God told Abram that this son is not the son He promised him. Doesn't know what's God's plan, Abram never doubt God and renew the covenant with God whose once again repeated His promise of descendants as many as stars and a son who will become the king of the nations, 13 years later, God finally granted Abram his own son out of the 100 years old him and his 99 years old wife, Sarai.

God's promise to us never fail, even if we sway from the path in some moments in our lives, even if we denial Him for sometime during our lives - God still plan the best for all of us always. And for whatever things we ask the Lord, He always grant us. (Like how Abram prayed many years for a son of his own) Our "covenant" with God never breaks, God is always there waiting for us to go back to Him and follow His words. Through tests and trial, our faith strengthen and brought us closer to God (like how God tested Abram by having his servant bare his other child first). We shall never doubt whatever planned ahead of us. Whatever happened is only for our good. Our rewards shall be granted once we become true disciples of the Lord. All we have to do is being faithful to God, because God's faithful to us always and forever.

Gospel: 28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli'jah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah" -- not knowing what he said. 34 As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. - Luke 9: 28-36

Jesus - "Voice of God"
Moses - "Man of Deliverance"
Eli'jah - "Man of Prophets"
Peter, John and James - "Men of Disciples"