Discussion Questions

First Reading

Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

F1. In Genesis 15:5 God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. It is to this promise that Abraham clings as he raises the knife to kill his son. Where do you fall on the continuum when blind trust is required of you, with 1 being low and 10 high?

F2. Abraham discovers that God does not allow human sacrifice. How does human trafficking relate to human sacrifice? Would raising the minimum wage eradicate some kinds of human sacrifice?

Second Reading

Romans 8:31b-34

S1. The Old Testament translates “Emmanuel” as God with us. This reading says God is not only with us, but for us. “Christ indeed intercedes for us.” Explain how this statement could be a real antidepressant.

S2. How does intervening “for” someone, taking a stand for him or her, relate to the commandment, “love your neighbor?” For whom can you intervene? Do you ever do it?

Gospel

Mark 9:2-10

G1. It took a blinding light for Peter, James and John to begin to see or understand who Jesus was. Think of some problems in your country that need illumination (such as racism, immigration, environment). What needs to happen in these areas before you would be able to see something divine in them

G2. When his friends heard about Jesus’ upcoming death, they were “beset by anguish.” So he took them up the mountain. Pope Francis speaks about the Transfiguration. What does he say needs to happen when we come down from the mountain?

At times we go through moments of darkness in our personal, family or social life, and we fear there is no way out. We feel frightened before great enigmas such as illness, innocent pain or the mystery of death. … We too are called to climb up the mountain, to contemplate the beauty of the Risen One that enkindles glimmers of light in every fragment of our life and helps us to interpret history beginning with the paschal victory.

Let us be careful, however: that feeling of Peter that “it is well that we are here” must not become spiritual laziness. We cannot remain on the mountain and enjoy the bliss of this encounter on our own. Jesus himself brings us back to the valley, among our brothers and sisters and into daily life. We must beware of spiritual laziness: we are fine, with our prayers and liturgies, and this is enough for us. No! Going up the mountain does not mean forgetting reality; praying never means avoiding the difficulties of life; the light of faith is not meant to provide beautiful spiritual feelings. No, this is not Jesus’ message. We are called to experience the encounter with Christ so that, enlightened by his light, we might take it and make it shine everywhere. Igniting little lights in people’s hearts; being little lamps of the Gospel that bear a bit of love and hope: this is the mission of a Christian.

Pope Francis Angelus Second Sun. of Lent
Feb. 28, 2021

Anne Osdieck

**From Saint Louis University