Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": 2nd Sun. of Lent

Readings

Gn 12:1-4a Lord to Abram: “Go to a land I'll show you. I'll make you a great nation and bless you; you'll be a blessing to all communities of the earth.” Abram went as the Lord directed.

Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22 "Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you." The Lord loves justice and right; he delivers and preserves those who hope in him.

2 Tim 1:8b-10 Bear hardship for the gospel with strength from God who saved us and called us to a holy life. Christ Jesus brought grace and life to light.

Mt 17:1-9 Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John; he was conversing with Moses and Elijah. Peter: “Good; how about if I make three tents?” Voice from cloud: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Jesus: “Don't fear, and don't tell anyone till the Son of Man has been raised.”

Pope Francis

Angelus: The mountain is the place of prayer, where we stand in the Lord's presence and encounter God intimately. Listen and take his words seriously; to do that, we must follow Him. We need to go to a place of silence to find ourselves and better hear God's voice. But we can't stay there; prayer pushes us to come down and meet people weighed down by fatigue, injustice, and poverty. Share the grace you receive: carry the fruits of your experience with God to others.

Reflections

Creighton: We're like Peter at the Transfiguration, with the grace of transcendent experience, transporting liturgy, lifegiving retreats, or inspiring music and wanting to build a tent and leave life below. As bread and wine are transformed into Christ's body and blood, we're transfigured into being Christ for others daily but get frightened and long to escape and return to the mountain. Jesus tells us not to fear, and God whispers that we're his beloved children pleasing to him. As God promises blessing to Abram, we're called to be a blessing to others, seeing grace daily and living in it.

One Bread One Body: Hear and converse with the Lord. After the Transfiguration, Jesus tried to converse about his passion, death, and resurrection, but his apostles broke off the conversation, overwhelmed with grief, but at Pentecost, Jesus' disciples conversed about it and also lived crucified and risen lives, witnessing for the risen Christ.

Passionist: Unexpected events have scared us too. Before time began, God gave us strength to bear hardships. God, make us open to your transforming love; we can't change on our own.