March 20, 2011
2nd Sunday of Lent
Pope Benedict says Lent is about baptism! The traditional disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving make us more open to conversion. Conversion is change -- not change for the sake of change but change in Christ. Abram leaves land, home and kin to answer God's call. St. Paul invites Timothy to share in the suffering of the Gospel. How many of us would pray for suffering? Yet our own suffering is often caused not by embracing the cross but by our refusal to change! In the Gospel Jesus takes Peter, James and John up the mountain. There he is transfigured and enters into conversation with Moses and Elijah. Peter wishes to stay and pitch a tent but a divine voice bids them to listen to the Beloved Son. Peter, James and John must keep the vision, listen to Jesus and follow him to the cross. Today, our three candidates for the Easter Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion, will kneel at the altar to pray for the grace of repentance, for honesty to admit and confess sin, and for courage to change. They humble and inspire us to do the same. Lent is about transformation.
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1st Sunday in Lent
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3rd Sunday in Lent
