Second Sunday of Lent

My Dear Parishioners,

Today is the Lord’s Day and the Second Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading for this day tells the story of Our Lord’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor before the Apostles Peter, James and John. As Jesus, accompanied by His disciples makes His way to Jerusalem, He is shown in glory with the Law-Giver, Moses and the Prophet Elijah. This theophany is meant to strengthen the faith of the Apostles prior to the upcoming Passion Christ was to endure.

Strength is something we can get by imitating others in adversity or by the encouraging words of others. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians doing both. In this Sunday’s second lection we read: “Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.” Saint Paul encourages the Philippians to do what he and those closely associated with him are doing that is, living as “citizens of heaven.” Yes, Paul and those who belong to Christ are living their lives in a somewhat of a different fashion than others. Their conduct reflects Christ in both word and deed.

The strength we need to conduct ourselves in a Christian fashion emanates from the Lenten disciplines of PRAYER, FASTING and ALMS-GIVING. We continually hear about these works during Lent because they are able to strengthen our spiritual life as we journey to the approaching days which commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Like Paul, I ENCOURAGE YOU to pray more fervently during these Lenten days. Do so as a family and please come to Stations of the Cross on Friday evening. I ENCOURAGE YOU to abstain from meat every Friday during Lent and abstain from something you can do without to strengthen your will. I ENCOURAGE YOU to take a Rice Bowl from the church and fill it each day with $1 so that at the end of 40 days these alms can be used to bring relief to the poor and starving around the world through the efforts of Catholic Relief Service. I ENCOURAGE YOU because doing these things in a secular world is not easy and it will take your determination and commitment – BUT YOU CAN DO IT. And when you do it you join yourself to a great company “whose citizenship is in heaven.”

When things are not easy we all need encouragement via word and example. Parents are very effective in doing so for their children and I am delighted to see it especially in our spiritual life. The sacrament of penance is of great importance to us during Lent as we reflect upon our sins which brought the Lord Jesus to the Cross. Adults and children should go to confession during this sacred time so that our souls may be cleansed and our hearts made new! We do so every Monday evening from 7 to 8:30!!!

Happy Lent!
Father Zig