Second Sunday of Lent

My Dear Parishioners,
 
Today we commemorate the Second Sunday of Lent as we celebrate the Lord’s Day. The Gospel reading for this Sunday is the account of the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus. As He was journeying with His Apostles to Jerusalem to accomplish the events which would bring salvation, Jesus stopped to show Peter, James and John a glimpse of heavenly glory for which they would be called to witness after His Holy Resurrection. The glory of heaven would only come after the suffering and death Jesus would endure to bring “ life and immortality to light through the Gospel.”
 
Suffering and death are topics we would rather not deal with and yet they are part of our human condition. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us in today’s reading from the Second Letter to Timothy, Jesus brings IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL. Today we begin the first day of the Novena to Saint Joseph. The Solemnity of Saint Joseph will be observed this year on Monday, March 20th since the 19th falls on a Sunday and every Sunday is a Solemnity of Our Lord’s Holy Resurrection. Joseph was a man of suffering who embraced the life God had planned for him. His life was full of uncertainty, questions and the most unusual of circumstances. Joseph did not waver from the task God had for him. He took Mary, pregnant with the Child Jesus, as his wife and raised Jesus as his own son. Joseph’s fidelity and strength are the hallmarks of his holy life. He was a loving husband and father who protected the Holy Family from the evil forces which sought to destroy them. He was selfless and generous in his actions. He modeled for Jesus the honor which should characterize every man. Yes, Joseph suffered as he fulfilled the plan of God but he always had near his side the Blessed Virgin Mary and her precious son, Christ our God. No doubt that when Saint Joseph’s days were complete that his wife and foster Son were at his side to commend him to God. For this reason Saint Joseph is the patron for a happy death. We should always pray to Saint Joseph that we too may experience a happy passing to heavenly glory.
 
Tanya Nellen, the parish secretary for Saint Cecilia Church will be relocating to California at the end of this month. I take to opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Tanya for the tremendous help she has been to me and the parish for the past six years. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless her with good health, strength, peace and all the many blessings which come from above. We will miss her and wish her well!!!
 
God bless you!
Father Zig