Queen of All Saints, Oakville, Missouri

ONE DAY AT A TIME

St. Wenceslaus, St. Louis, Missouri

TRANSFORMATION

Citizenship is an important concept for Paul, just as he assures the Philippians that their real citizenship is in heaven. We would do well to imitate Paul, just as he imitates Jesus, the man of prayer. In this way, we, like Jesus in today's gospel, will be transformed and united with Christ forever.

Luke's version of the Transfiguration comes shortly after the first announcement of the passion and resurrection. In this way, the gospel passage underscores the connection between suffering and glory. Moses and Elijah (law and prophecy) witness to Jesus, the New Testament fulfillment. They speak of Jesus' own Exodus, His journey through the suffering of Good Friday to the glory of Easter.

St. Anthony of Padua, St. Louis, Missouri

Second Sunday of Lent

The process of reconciliation we are trying to achieve involves a number of movements happening one upon the other:

First, we acknowledge that God is inviting us to a more abundant life.

Secondly, we admit our sinfulness and name what is blocking or detouring our experience of oneness.

Thirdly, we affirm our decision to change by concrete behavior modifications and definitive new attitudes.

Finally, we accept the healing power of God which places us once again in union with God, in harmony with others, in integrity with ourselves, in kinship with creation.

How do we see this happening in the light of the readings on this Second Sunday of Lent?

We come in touch with God's invitation to a deeper and more abundant relationship with him by recognizing his "transfiguration" (Gospel) in our world; that is, the glory of his love and mercy in the middle of a world riddled with crime and fear and lack of respect, the excitement of his presence in the hum-drum of our ordinary work-a-day existence. This we do primarily through Word and Sacrament, personal prayer, and the support of community.

To get in touch with this glory and this excitement, we remove the burdens that hold us back, the weights that tie us down, the chains that enslave us, the blinders that narrow our vision, the choices that limit us, the sins that detour our striving for holiness. This we do by confessing not just the "what" of our sinful behavior but the "why" of its happening in our lives. Then, as Abraham did in the first reading, we make our act of faith and sacrifice of obedience to God by choosing to change our lives. This we do by making step-by-step concrete improvements in our attitudes and actions.

The result of this process is the realization that Christ "will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of his glorified body" (second reading). This is the healing power of God that we accept here and now without doubt and is the experience of reconciliation.

     --Father Benet OFM

Immaculate Conception, Arnold, Missouri

FRIAR'S MIND

You steadfastly trusted that in your dreams and intuitions
you were being guided by the hand of God,
may we have wisdom and insight
and be nourished by a more abundant trust in God.

Be for us a source of protection from all evil and harm,
just as you, Joseph, protected the child Jesus from
these and all dangers.

St. Joseph, you who are the patron saint
of the universal Church and of every Christian home,
watch over this our domestic church
with your persevering and loving care.

As we ask that the blessing of God,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
rest upon this bread and remain forever. Amen+

Frs. Earl & Gilmary

Mary, Mother of the Church, St. Louis, Missouri

Second Sunday of Lent

As you may have heard me say in last week's homily, Lent is meant to be a season of growth. It is a specific period of time in the Liturgical Year where we are called to refocus ourselves on Christ through the practices of fasting, alms giving and prayer. It is so easy for us as humans to become distracted on a daily basis from the real important things in life, such as God, and find ourselves being concerned more about the less important realities. Through the three traditional practices of Lent and God's grace, we may awaken within ourselves a new awareness or a fuller appreciation for Him amid all of our daily activities and adventures. In this we experience growth in our life with Him which is what Lent is all about.

See if this story by Fr. Anthony DeMello, S.J. means anything to you, particularly in light of the Lenten Season:

I used to be stone deaf. I would see people stand up and go through all kinds of gyrations. They called it dancing. It looked absurd to me -- until one day I heard the music.

Happy Lent,

Deacon Mike

St. Francis of Asissi, Raleigh, North Carolina

Second Sunday of Lent

How many Catholics will refuse to bring the bread and wine at the offertory procession because they are too shy? "I can't do that," they say. They start to tremble as soon as they're asked. It's called stage fright. Many of us have it, especially when we have to say something in front of other people. The very thought of standing up before a crowd, especially of strangers, and having to say something relevant or helpful sends some of us into fits. Our palms sweat, our eyes dart here and there, we open our mouth, and nothing comes out!

But is it possible for a whole group of people to have stage fright, to be afraid to speak their message? Maybe so. We Catholics should start taking stock of all we have to contribute to our society. We have our commitment, our hospitals, and educational systems. But most important of all, we have God's message of love and life, a message that our world urgently needs to hear.

Evangelization says that we Catholics have Good News to bring to our world, that the deeper meaning we see in things can begin to bring perspective to a society in which people are driven by money, power, ambition, insecurities, and fears. We have something to say to exhausted executives, anxious adolescents, insecure parents, value-free schools, crime-filled streets, and empty relationships.

Lent gives us an opportunity to ask ourselves, do I really believe God? Do I really believe God's Good News? In other words, it gives us the opportunity to rediscover the message of faith in our lives.

REFLECTION
Reflect upon the Creed that we say at Mass as infants are about to be baptized. Which statements in it give you hope and bring meaning to your life?

ACTION
If someone asked you what your faith meant to you, what would you say? On one sheet of paper, try to write down the meaning your faith brings to your life.

PRAYER
Lord, when everyone is done offering their theories, let me return to the truth of the love you have shown us in Christ Jesus who, destroying our sins, brings us your true life in the Holy Spirit.

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Copyright © 1998 Liturgical Publications of St. Louis, Inc.
Last modified: Monday, March 9, 1998