'May we all have the courage to live a Lent that will usher in true life for the world.' Sunday Reflections, 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C

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Transfiguration

Blessed Fra Angelico [Web Gallery of Art]


Readiings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Gospel Luke 9:28-36 (English Standard Version Anglicised: India)  

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.


Léachtaí i nGaeilge


Starry Night 
Vincent van Gogh [Web Gallery of Art]

[The Lord] brought [Abram] outside and said, “Look towards heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5; First Reading).

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I am preparing this under the shadow of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. That shadow covers the whole world. Today's gospel tells us: As [Peter] was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. But there are breaks in that dark cloud where we can catch a glimpse of God's loving presence such as the story of the 11-year-old boy who travelled on his own on a journey of 1,000 kms to safety in Slovakia where he was welcomed warmly. Another glimpse of God's loving presence is the wedding of a young couple in the middle of the invasion, trusting in God with hope for the future. These two events are for me 'Transfiguration moments', two of many that we can glimpse in this war. 

Continue at Bangor to Bobbio.

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