Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Second Sunday of Lent! This weekend’s Gospel from Saint Matthew is the Transfiguration of our Lord. Jesus intentionally shares this wonderful and profound revelation of Himself to Peter, James, and John, and to each one of us. Jesus, Who is truly God and truly Man.
A few years back while reviewing a reflection video on “why is Mass so important,” they quoted Saint Francis of Assisi. His words speak directly to our 2023 Lenten focus ~ Sharing in the Body of Christ. Saint Francis of Assisi says ~ “Let the entire man be seized with fear; let the whole world tremble; let heaven exult when Christ, the Son of the Living God is on the altar in the hands of the priest. O admirable height and stupendous condescension! O humble sublimity! O sublime humility! ~ that the Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under a morsel of bread.”
Saint Francis was a poet and lyricist, singing the praises of God throughout his humble life of service and poverty. His poetic side is revealed in the above but even more, we grasp the intensity of his faith and his profound insight into the mystery of the Altar where the risen Lord Jesus makes Himself available to us, draws so close to us. It strikes me that this profound truth and mystery, the very core of our Catholic Faith, is and needs to be at the very center of our Lenten journey and experience. May we ponder this reality over and again in these days as we respond to the Father’s voice and plea, “This is my beloved Son, …listen to Him.”
If we are going to hear Jesus, we will need to make some room in our hectic schedules, take some time for silence and solitude, make the effort to pull away from the hustle and bustle, so as to consciously be in His presence and listen to Him within our souls. Jesus does speak to us … quietly. He whispers, so the effort to still ourselves will indeed bring many blessings.
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
