March 13, 2022

2nd Sun., Lent

March 13, 2022:  Second Sunday of Lent

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Pope Francis

Angelus:  In today's Transfiguration gospel, sleep overcomes the Apostles, but when they wake they see the Lord's glory.  It's surprising the disciples are drowsy around extraordinary moments like this or at Gethsemane.  Maybe this time they were in prayer with Jesus till sleep overcame them.  We too can be sleepy when we want to be alert, such as in prayer or with family after a busy day. 

We need to pray for the grace of being awakened from our lethargy.  With the Holy Spirit's help, we can overcome tiredness.  Come Holy Spirit; I want to encounter Jesus and be attentive.  Though the three disciples couldn't stay awake, they woke up during the Transfiguration, as Jesus' light surrounded them.   We too need God’s light to see differently; it attracts us, reawakens us, reignites our desire and strength to pray, to look within, and to dedicate time to others.

Place yourself in God's light and let the Lord surprise you and reawaken your heart, by reading the Gospel, contemplating the crucified Jesus and experiencing the the love of God, who never can transfigure our days, give them new meaning, new light.  May Mary help us stay awake and welcome this time of grace.

Post-Angelus:  Mariupol, named after Mary, has become a city of martyrs in the war ravaging Ukraine where children, innocents, and civilians are killed.  The aggression must end before cities become cemeteries.  May the cries of the suffering be heard and the attacks cease!  Let there be focused negotiation.  Christ is present in those fleeing; may we welcome them.  Pray for peace and the conversion of hearts!  God is of peace; those who support violence profane him.

Read
  • Gn 15:5-12, 17-18  Lord / Abram:  “Your descendants shall be as numerous as the stars.”  Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as righteousness.  “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur to give you this land.” / “How will I know?” / “Bring me a heifer, a she-goat, a ram, a turtledove, and a pigeon.” / He did.  Birds swooped down on the carcasses, but he stayed.  A trance fell upon him.  A fire pot and torch passed between the pieces.  The Lord made a covenant with Abram:  “To your descendants I give this land.”
  • Ps 27:1, 7-9, 13-14  "The Lord is my light and my salvation."  Whom should I fear?  Hear my call; have pity on me.  I seek you.  I believe I'll see the Lord's bounty.  Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted.
  • Phil 3:17—4:1  Imitate me.  Many conduct themselves as enemies of the cross, headed for destruction; their God is their belly, and their minds are occupied with earthly things.  But we're citizens of heaven and await a Savior who will change our body to conform with his.  So stand firm in the Lord.
  • Lk 9:28b-36  Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up to pray.  His face changed, his clothing became dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah were conversing with him.  Peter and his companions woke up and saw his glory and the men.  Peter told Jesus, “Master, it's good we're here; let's make three tents....”  A cloud cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened.  A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son; listen to him.”  Then Jesus was alone....
 Reflect
Преображение (Transfiguration)/ Ivanov
  • Creighton:  Today's readings are about seeing God.  We want to see and know God, though no one can and live.  God speaks to Abram, but Abram doesn’t see God.  God promises to bless Abram, but the blessing doesn't include him seeing God.  The psalmist also wants to see God:  “You my glance seeks....  Don't hide from me....  I believe I'll see the bounty of the Lord.....” The psalmist hopes but doesn't see God.  Paul, encouraging us to live for God, says, “The Lord.... will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body.....”  Our lowly body's eyes can't see God, but our glorified body's eyes will.  In the gospel, God allows Jesus' divine nature to be glimpsed at.  The disciples see his face and clothes; though they only see his humanity, his appearance demonstrates there's more to him than they can see, and the voice makes it clear that he's the Son of God.  In Jesus, we see God and don’t die. We await the return of God who came, destroyed death, promises to empower us to live for him and give us eyes to truly see.  So may we “stand firm in the Lord.”
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Mountain climbing":  We must “climb the Lord’s mountain...that we may walk in his paths” and hear the voice:  “This is My Son, My Chosen One. Listen to him.”  These revelations will keep us from despair when the Lord takes us to Calvary; the glory prepares us for the suffering.  When we walk with him “through a gloomy valley,” we'll consider present sufferings as nothing compared with the glory “consider the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us” . We'll fix our eyes on Jesus, walk on the waters of evil, and boast of the cross.  We're citizens of heaven awaiting Christ’s coming, in but not of the world, seated on Christ’s throne, though our bodies are away from the Lord.
  • Passionist:  Peter confesses Jesus as Messiah, and Jesus outlines discipleship .(verses before gospel); then Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain.  Lk shows Jesus as the New Adam, universal savior.  Moses and Elijah are connections to Old Testament prophets. Jesus, unlike Adam, doesn't disobey his father, embraces his Father’s will, doesn't give into temptation, and prays.  May we do likewise.  Cloud symbolizes God's presence.  Peter's falling asleep reminds us of when he later denied Jesus.  Here was he awestruck at Christ transfigured, suggesting tent-building on impulse?  The 1st reading tells of God’s covenant and willingness to stay involved with us, merciful in the face of our transgressions.  Paul encourages his community to elevate themselves and embrace their destiny as citizens of heaven.  Like Jesus, we must not cling to the mountain but without fear to stand firm in the Lord, even if we're awestruck.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Jesus transfigured in glory":  Faith enables us to see what the eye can't.  Through faith Abraham recognized God and his call.  Abraham is the father of faith because he hoped in God's promises.  Faith gives us a taste of God's glory.  When the disciples saw Jesus transfigured. Jesus' face changed and his clothing became dazzling white.  When Moses met with God on Sinai his skin shone because he had been talking with God.  The Israelites couldn't look at Moses' face because of its brightness.  Jesus appeared in glory with lawgiver Moses and great prophet Elijah in the presence of his beloved apostles Peter, James, and John.  Jesus went up knowing the cross awaited him.  The Father glorified Jesus because he obeyed.  The cloud fulfilled the Jews' dream that when the Messiah came, the cloud of God's presence would fill the temple.  Jesus wants to share this glory with us.  He shows us the way:  follow him.  Jesus went to Calvary so Paradise would be restored to us; he embraced the cross to obtain the crown of glory, a crown that awaits us if we follow him.
"When he is transfigured, his face shines as the sun that he may be manifested to the children of light who have put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light... and walk honestly as in the day.  Being manifest, he will shine unto them... as the sun of righteousness" (Origen)
Peter, James, and John didn't discover the transfigured Jesus till they awoke.  How much do we miss of God's glory and action because we're asleep spiritually?  Mental lethargy, an "unexamined life," a life of ease, prejudice, or sorrow can keep us asleep till we get past it.  We, like Peter, James, and John, are called to be witnesses of Jesus' glory.
Dress legend
  • 'Cow' pin:  Abram brought God a 3-year-old heifer (1st reading)
  • 'Sun' pin:  A trance fell on Abram as sun was about to set (1st reading)
  • 'Star' tie pin:  “Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars.” (1st reading)
  • 'Bird' tie pin:  Birds of prey swooped down... (1st reading)
  • 'Scroll' pin:  The Lord made a covenant with Abram (1st reading); our citizenship is in heaven (2nd reading)
  • '?' tie pin:  “How am I to know that I shall possess it?” (1st reading) "Whom shall I fear?" (psalm)
  • 'Street light' tie bar:  The Lord is my light (psalm)
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  "Lord, hear and answer my call" (psalm)
  • 'Heart' pin:  My heart speaks of you; be stouthearted (psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  I believe I'll see the Lord's bounty in the land of the living (psalm)
  • 'Musical notes with "joy"' pin, 'crown' tie bar:  You are my joy and my crown (2nd reading)
  • 'Clock' tie bar:  Wait for the Lord with courage (psalm); we await a Savior (2nd reading)
  • 'Cross' pin:  Many conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ (2nd reading)
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  My brothers and sisters, my joy and my crown, stand firm (2nd reading)
  • 'Alps' pin:  Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain (gospel)
  • Tie with clouds:  A cloud came and cast a shadow over them (gospel)
  • White and purple shirt and suspenders, white socks:  Jesus' clothes became dazzling white (gospel); purple for Lent
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