Second Sunday of Lent

Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 (JB)

A reading from the book of Genesis

The sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith.

God put Abraham to the test. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he called. ‘Here I am’ he replied. ‘Take your son,’ God said ‘your only child Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.’

When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood. Then he stretched out his hand and seized the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he said. ‘I am here’ he replied. ‘Do not raise your hand against the boy’ the angel said. ‘Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your son, your only son.’ Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt-offering in place of his son.

The angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time from heaven. ‘I swear by my own self – it is the Lord who speaks – because you have done this, because you have not refused me your son, your only son, I will shower blessings on you, I will make your descendants as many as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants shall gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, as a reward for your obedience.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Genesis

God tested Abraham.

God said to him, “Abraham!”

And Abraham said, “Here I am.”

God said,

“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love,

and go to the land of Moriah,

and offer him there as a burnt offering

on one of the mountains that I shall show you.”

When Abraham and Isaac came to the place

that God had shown him,

Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order.

He bound his son Isaac,

and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

Then Abraham reached out his hand

and took the knife to kill his son.

But the angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven,

and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

And he replied, “Here I am.”

The angel said,

“Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him;

for now I know that you fear God,

since you have not withheld your son,

your only son, from me.”

Abraham looked up

and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns.

Abraham went and took the ram

and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven,

and said,

“By myself I have sworn, says the Lord:

Because you have done this,

and have not withheld your son, your only son,

I will indeed bless you,

and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven

and as the sand that is on the seashore.

And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies,

and by your offspring

shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves,

because you have obeyed my voice.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 115:10, 15-19 (JB)

R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord,

in the land of the living.

I trusted, even when I said:

‘I am sorely afflicted.’

O precious in the eyes of the Lord

is the death of his faithful. R.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;

you have loosened my bonds.

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make:

I will call on the Lord’s name. R.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfil

before all his people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord,

in your midst, O Jerusalem. R.

Romans 8:31-34 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans

God did not spare his own Son.

With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Romans 8:31-34 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans

If God is for us, who is against us?

He who did not withhold his own Son,

but gave him up for all of us,

will he not with him also give us everything else?

Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?

Is it God who justifies?

Who is to condemn?

Is it Christ Jesus,

who died, and indeed, who was raised,

who is at the right hand of God,

who intercedes for us?

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

cf Matthew 17:5 (JB)

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

From the shining cloud, the Father’s voice is heard:

this is my beloved Son, hear him.

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Luke 9:35 (NRSV)

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard:

this is my beloved Son, hear him.

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Mark 9:2-10 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

This is my Son, the beloved; listen to him.

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

As they came down the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 9:2-10 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John,

and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them,

and his clothes became dazzling white,

such as no one on earth could bleach them.

And there appeared to them Elijah and Moses,

who were talking with Jesus.

Then Peter said to Jesus,

“Rabbi, it is good for us to be here;

let us make three tents,

one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

Then a cloud overshadowed them,

and from the cloud there came a voice,

“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”

Suddenly when they looked around,

they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain,

Jesus ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen,

until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

So they kept the matter to themselves,

questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.