Faith, wisdom and divine revelation

Mar 14, 2025

2nd Sunday of Lent (C)
Readings: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18;
Philippians 3:17 — 4:1;
Gospel: Luke 9:28-36

On this Second Sunday of Lent, we are invited to journey deeper into the heart of God’s revelation, encountering His promises, His glory, and the transformative power of faith. The readings today from Genesis, Philippians, and Luke offer us a profound reflection on God’s covenant, the call to steadfast faith, and the radiant hope revealed in the Transfiguration of Jesus.

Let us begin with the first reading from Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18. Here we witness a pivotal moment in salvation history: God’s covenant with Abram. God takes Abram outside and directs him to look at the stars, promising, “So shall your descendants be.” Abram believes, and his faith is credited to him as righteousness. This passage not only underscores God’s faithfulness but also highlights a crucial epistemological principle of Scripture; that is faith is a way of knowing. Abram does not have empirical proof of God's promise. He cannot count his descendants nor see the fulfilment of the covenant. Yet, through faith, he comprehends an unseen reality through the trustworthiness of God's word.

Epistemology, the study of how we come to know what we know, often emphasises reason and experience. But Scripture reveals a higher form of knowledge: the knowledge that comes through divine revelation and faith. Abram’s belief is not irrational; rather, it is supra-rational rooted in a confidence that transcends what human senses can grasp. This challenges us today: How often do we demand signs or visible assurances from God before trusting Him? Abram teaches us that faith is a lens through which we perceive God’s eternal promises.

In the second reading from Philippians 3:17 – 4:1, St Paul continues this theme by urging the Christian community to “stand firm in the Lord.” He contrasts those whose “god is their stomach” and who focus solely on earthly matters with those who await their true citizenship in heaven. Paul’s language reflects another layer of scriptural epistemology: the distinction between worldly knowledge and divine wisdom. Those who fixate on earthly things rely solely on what can be seen, touched, or consumed. Yet, Paul reminds us that our true knowledge comes from an awareness of our heavenly destiny.

This passage calls us to lift our gaze from the transient to the eternal. Just as Abram looked up at the stars and saw a future shaped by God’s promise, we too must look beyond the fleeting pleasures and struggles of this world. True wisdom involves recognising that our ultimate reality is shaped not by what is immediately visible but by God's unfolding plan for us.

Finally, the Gospel of Luke 9:28-36 presents the breathtaking scene of the Transfiguration. Jesus, accompanied by Peter, James, and John, ascends the mountain to pray. There, His face changes, and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, speaking of Jesus’ departure, His “exodus,” which He will accomplish in Jerusalem. A cloud overshadows them, and a voice declares: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to Him!”

The Transfiguration is a moment of divine revelation - an unveiling of Jesus’ glory, not for its own sake, but to strengthen the disciples’ faith as they approach the dark road to Calvary. This event is a profound lesson in epistemology: the disciples’ understanding of Jesus deepens not through reason alone but through an encounter with God's presence. Peter, overwhelmed, desires to build tents to contain and prolong the moment. But God’s voice redirects them: “Listen to Him.” Knowledge of God does not come from grasping or controlling divine moments but from listening to His Son.

This Gospel challenges us: Are we truly listening to Jesus? Or are we, like Peter, trying to confine God’s work within our own understanding? Often, we want faith to be predictable, contained, and comfortable. But divine revelation calls us to let go of our need to control and to open our hearts to the unpredictable and transformative power of God.

So, dear brothers and sisters, what can we take away from these readings today?

First, faith is a way of knowing. Like Abram, we are called to trust God’s promises even when we cannot see their fulfilment. Faith opens our minds and hearts to realities beyond human comprehension.

Second, true wisdom comes from focusing on eternal truths, not on earthly distractions. St. Paul reminds us to keep our gaze fixed on our heavenly citizenship, for that is where our ultimate destiny lies.

Third, divine knowledge often comes through listening, not controlling. The Transfiguration teaches us that God's ways are higher than ours, and our task is not to build tents around His glory but to listen and follow His Son.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask God for the grace to see with the eyes of faith, to think with the wisdom of eternity, and to listen with hearts open to His transforming voice. Let this Lent be a time not only of penance but of deeper understanding. A season where we grow not just in knowledge about God, but in ultimate knowledge of God.

May the Lord bless our journey, and may we, like Abram, Paul, and the disciples, walk by faith and not by sight.

Fr George Vaithynathan is the assistant parish priest at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Ipoh.