Second Sunday of Lent
February 25, 2018 – Year B
Readings: Gn 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18 / Ps 116 / Rom 8:31B-34 / Mk 9:2-10
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Last week we were once again blessed to have Father Paul with us. He celebrated the 10:45 Mass. He got here about 1:30 am Sunday morning after driving almost 12 hours from St. Augustine, Florida. He was smiling as he told me that he had gotten lost, taking the wrong exit and ending up in North Carolina. Michelle Rex and her son Timothy came to his rescue.

Father Paul is the kind of person who seems to be happy all the time. He reminds me of the group of Trappist monks in the Guimaras Island, the Franciscan Sisters of Steubenville, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill – I was their chaplain – just to name a few groups who are always full of joy. They are also human beings like us who get sick, experience pain and have problems, but they all have one thing in common: They do what most people don’t do too often (as they should.) They pray a lot.

The gospel we just heard from St. Mark is also in St. Matthew and St. Luke. It is the same story, but St. Luke related to us something that the others didn’t include. He related that the Lord Jesus took Peter, James and John and went up the mountain to PRAY. As He was praying, His face was changed, and His clothing became dazzling white.  This tells us that the Lord and His three disciples didn’t go up the mountain just to view the beautiful scenery or to rest temporarily and forget their difficulties.  They were there to pray.

As we all know, praying isn’t just talking to God; it is also listening to Him. And Jesus is God. While Peter was telling the Lord about building tents, the Heavenly Father said “This is My Son; listen to Him.” Talking to Jesus in prayer, listening to His words in the sacred scriptures is what we do as God’s children, not only during the season of Lent, but every single day of our lives. If we do this consistently we will not only be transformed, but with the help of God’s grace, we will also be able to have a glimpse of God’s glory just like Peter, James and John experienced on the mountain top.

Every time we see a seemingly dead tree come alive in spring, every time we see the beauty of a galaxy in a clear night sky, every time we hear a newborn baby cry and every time we see in the holy sacrifice of the Mass ordinary bread and wine being transformed into the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ we have a glimpse of God’s glory.