II Sunday of Lent
Br. José Romero, L.C.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Christ, our King, Thy Kingdom come!
Preparatory prayer (to put me in the presence of God)
My God, teach me to love as You have loved me.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 17, 1-9
At that time Jesus took with him Peter, James and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain alone with him. There he was transfigured in their presence: his face became radiant like the sun and his garments became white as snow. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how good it would be for us to stay here! If you wish, we will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”.
While he was still speaking, a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of it, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces to the ground, filled with great fear. Jesus came to them, touched them, and said to them, “Rise and do not be afraid.” Then they lifted up their eyes and saw no one but Jesus.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one what you have seen, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
Climbing mountains is a fairly common walk for many of us. Some time ago I started climbing one that I had never known before. The road was passable, but with leaves, some flowers on the sides, pieces of wood and the occasional stream. But what characterized this road was that it was well covered by trees, the only thing you could see was the road.
The Lent that is beginning can be this road, full of things and with many trees, full of sacrifices and prayer. But the reality is that I started to climb the mountain only to see the top, to see the view, what is the top I am looking for in this Lent? Undoubtedly the peak I must conquer is Easter.
But sometimes I get tired of climbing; other times the path bothers me and it is then that the mountain gives me the false summits, those little places where the trees disappear and I cannot have a beautiful view that encourages me to continue in search of that view that will give me the true summit. In today's Gospel I see how Jesus is transfigured to tell me to walk towards Easter, that the important thing is not the path but the summit.
The life of a Christian can be described by what we are living these days; it is like climbing a mountain by means of a road that has leaves, flowers or dry sticks, but, because we are looking at the road, we forget the goal: Paradise. That is why, during life, we have these false summits that do not remind us of Paradise. Jesus is transfigured at different moments of life to remind me that the most beautiful view is in Paradise.
I will remember the moments when Jesus was transfigured in a Mass, in a confession or in an act of charity. I will look for that transfigured Jesus today and I will go through Lent to reach the summit. I will see the transfigured Jesus who strengthens me to reach Paradise and I will enjoy the best view.
«What is the meaning of the mountain for us? That we are called to draw close to God and to others: to God, the Most High, in silence, in prayer, taking distance from gossip and gossip that contaminates. But also to others, who from the mountain are seen in another perspective, that of God who calls all people: from on high, others are seen as a whole and we discover that beauty is only found in the whole. The mountain reminds us that brothers and sisters do not select each other, but embrace each other, with their gaze and, above all, with their lives. The mountain unites God and brothers and sisters in a single embrace, that of prayer. The mountain makes us go on high, far from so many material things that happen; it invites us to rediscover what is essential, what remains: God and our brothers and sisters. The mission begins on the mountain: there we discover what counts. At the heart of this missionary month, let us ask ourselves: what is it that counts for me in life? What are the summits I wish to reach?»
(Homily of H.H. Francis, October 20, 2019).
Dialogue with Christ
This is the most important part of your prayer, prepare yourself to talk with much love with the One who loves you.
Purpose
Propose a personal one. The one that involves the most love in response to the Beloved... or, if you believe that this is what God is asking of you, live what is suggested below.
Finding Jesus transfigured in my day.
Farewell
We thank You, Lord, for all Your benefits, You who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
Christ, our King!
Thy Kingdom come!
Most prudent Virgin, Mary, Mother of the Church.
Pray for us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
