Rise and Do Not Be Afraid

February 17, 2008

Second Sunday of Lent

By Rev. Joe McCloskey, S.J.

The LORD said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-2

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:5

Piety

O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others, open my ears that I may hear their cries, open my heart so that they need not be without comfort. Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the rich. Show me where love and hope and faith are needed, and use me to bring them to these places. Open my eyes and ears that I may, this coming day, be able to do some work of peace for Thee.

-- Alan Paton

(The Fire of Peace: A Prayer Book. Compiled and edited by Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB. Erie, PA: Pax Christi USA, 1992.)

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/021708.shtml

The transfiguration of Christ before his disciples and his approval by the voice from heaven shook up the Apostles who were with him at the Transfiguration. They had to look at him a spiritual way. Spiritual intimacy is one of the closest bonds of the human heart if not the closest. Sharing Christ with each other makes us look at each other with our hearts. Sharing Christ makes us recognize Christ mutually. We can never look at anyone the same way after they have shared the Christ of their hearts. More that can be expected of one who follows Christ. He brings the strength to put up with hardship and difficulty.

Living in Christ’s love brings peace, joy, kindness, patience and so many more fruits of the Spirit that unfold the uniqueness of God’s love in us. People on a spiritual retreat usually come tired, disturbed, and anxious. They are too often filled with anxiety at all the hurts of our world today. Something happens when they are with the Lord that changes their view of the world. Their hearts relax in the Lord. And the force of the God awareness of the soul flows to the exterior. Their complexions seem to be transfigured. People seem younger at the end of a retreat. Wonderful changes in people who spend time with the Lord make one wonder why the doctors do not prescribe prayer for what ails one. It is a simple truth that God brings peace to us when we share his son.

Action

Lent does not have to be a time of sadness if we are willing to be transfigured by the time and the work we would do for Christ. Our hearts will hear the words of approval from the Father; “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased…” when we are willing to be a real “Christ” with each other. We are challenged by Lent not only to be companions of Christ, but also to become His presence and hear His Father’s words of approval for what we do in His name. This is what transfiguration can be all about for us.